Transition area

[jvinch]

Hello, brand new here. We just purchased a home that has great landscaping potential, but we have a long way to go to get there. Our back yard is part lawn and then as it moves up a slope becomes dense woods. The problem is the area of transition between the two areas. It is full of weeds and tall grass. I would like to plant some groundcover and some native plants, but once they are planted I think they will just get consumed by the weeds and get choked out. I don't know how to do this. Am I going to have to rototill the entire area and then plant ground cover? I would prefer not to do that and I think weeds would still take over. Should I wait until the fall when the weeds slow down? I would appreciate any suggestions.

Thanks

JV

[Stonehenge]

Moved to homeowner help forum.

[HardDaysKnight]

Hello JV and welcome.
when you till, you bring a slew of dormant weed-seed to
the forefront and accomplish nothing.
There is so much you can do with that space at any budget,
But ground cover seems like a waste, and you might be
asking us in the future how to get rid of it.

[agla]

JV,

I'm not sure if this will work for you, but sometimes you can use other strategies to mitigate ugly rather than replace it. One possibility is to plant good sized trees near the base of the slope. This is not going to screen the weedy slope, but will draw your attention away (what we sometimes call "stopping your eye"). The weedy slope will still be there , but will be faded into the background. This may not work for you, but I have done it several times and it is very effective.

[jvinch]

Harddaysknight I would be happy to hear about some of your suggestions for landscaping without using ground cover. I am open to about anything that involves getting rid of the weeds/tall grasses.

Agla, I really want to get rid of those weeds. The trees sound like a good idea, but also want some native species covering the ground. My question is how to get them to grow without being choked out by weeds?

Thanks

JV

[Hamons]

Have you condidered a buffallo grass? Great for a hot, dry slope.

Here is a good link http://www.bbg.org/gar2/topics/sustainable/handbooks/lawns/3.html

[HardDaysKnight]

I agree with agla. You can step the tree screen back a
a few yards and plant whatever you want in front.

If you go with hamons buffalo grass advice, you can do that
behind the trees. Wildflowers go real well with Buffalo grass
and are great for picking flowers and also potpouri.
wildflower link:http://www.wildflower-seed.com/