[Supertacks]

A section of my property borders woods. A section of those woods that is approx 30 by 50 has been overgrown since I have been in the property. Over the last two weeks I cut down four trees, and pulled all the dead wood and brush out of this area. At this point I am left with green leafy weeds and brush that I manually cut with a cycle.

My goal is to reclaim as much of this land as possible, plant grass, and as it transitions back into the woods I want to plant rasberry and blue berry bushes for the kids.

I am pretty sure weeds and brush are going to grow back very quickly and over take any attempts I make at getting grass to grow there.

I thought about using a brush killing chemical, but if I do that how long must I wait to plant grass and berries. Would this be dangerous to the kids?

My other thoughts are to rent a machine to turn the ground so I can get all the roots out. Seems like a pretty tough job though.

Any ideas?

[Bull]

In my opinion, nasty chemicals are a last resort for any job.

Black landscaping fabric, laid down over freshly upturned ground or even just over weeds that have been cut very low, and then covered with a thick layer of mulch would help to keep weeds at bay.

[David Jones]

Nuke'em with a spray.
Every brush/weed killer mfg can supply you with the data you need. Might even be on the container.

[Bill93711]

Spray the new brush growth with round up or its walmart generic. Brush will try to come back and will if you dont treat it. round up is fairly safe to use.

[Deadhead]

You might skip the grass step if you are going to plant bushes & vines back like that. Run the whole place over with a Gravely or heavy mower to grind everything up. Then use weedblocking cloth or a heavy/thick layer of oak or other leaves with some limbs on top to keep them in place. Mulch in a heavy layer would do the same. It is hard for stuff to grow through multiple layers of matted leaves. Then in fall when you were ready you could cut holes in the mulch layer for your plants. Will look more natural on the margin of the forest too IMO.

Grass just has to be mowed & is a PITA to get rid of under blueberries & other shrubs. Chokes them if not kept down.

I do the Roundup deal once or twice a year around in the woods even though I don't like to. It helps knock back the impossible honeysuckle, PI, greenbrier & other things that no amount of chopping or pulling will get.

[zbuickman]

Round up, wait a week , rototill, plant grass. Round up is not a residual herbicide. after Grass has taken @ year spray it with 2-4D and that will take care of the broad leaf weeds that were in your grass seed.

[YVEYANT]

If you have a tool rental place by you, rent a power tiller, it is no more difficult than pushing a mower, very easy. it turns the ground over and does a great job. Place by me rents then for $75 per day and a day should be all you need.