Hi,

I just bought a house in Ivesdale, uncared for for this last year. The yard is full of giant (5 ft tall) cockleburrs and other very large weeds. About half of the yard is covered in pea gravel, the other half is a mixture of poor quality soil and gravel.

I would like to have some advice on how to get rid of the weeds, so they won't grow back, preferably using organic solutions. I have 2 dogs who will be out in the yard, and there are many birds around as well.

Also, do you have any suggestions for what type of grass or ground cover might grow successfully in the gravel-ly soil?

Thank you! Dorey Riegel

Wow Dorey, Sounds like you have your work cut out for you over the next few years. first get rid of the seeds on the cockleburs and any other weeds. bury them deep or burn them jus tget them out so they dont drop to reinfest the soil. sounds like most of your weeds may have very large roots but try and dig them out as best as you can. with your soil situation and weeds you may want to go to lasagna gardening which is just layering of wet newspaper, peat moss, leaves etc. there is a good book on the subject that is probably in libraries by Pat Lanza. good luck,