Tree removal, poison ivy & landscaping... oh my! (Durham: college, maintenance)

[seattleswrk]

Can anyone recommend affordable businesses or individuals in Durham that can help me with the mess in my back yard?

I have several trees that need to be removed or trimmed and a serious poison ivy problem that has strangled the trees and is spreading.

Also, my yard is terribly unattractive, the ground is mostly clay and very uneven, so I think I'll need soil laid down if I want to grow anything, grass or otherwise. Does anyone have experience totally re-habilitating a yard? I don't mind doing some work myself but I don't even know where to start and I need it to be very low maintenance.

Thank you in advance!

-Susan

[no kudzu]

Susan, see a landscape architect or at least a landscape designer before you talk about removing trees. This person can recommend a good reliable and bonded tree removal and regrading sounds likely. Also she can recommend low maintenance plants and give you a good design you can work at your own pace and budget. A good designer will be able to come up with a plan for you to do the work over several years if you aren't able to do it all at once.
Also think about keeping some of the grindings from your trees for mulch if you have place to store them. In a few months a big pile will decompose and you will have great additives for your garden or at least mulch. Sorry- I'm kinda new to the area so can't recommend anybody but don't get a good ole boy with a chain saw. removal of
mature trees is a science and art and you can't take any chances on them falling the wrong way or anybody getting hurt.
Good luck

[no kudzu]

Susan,

Also remember even the roots and stems of poison ivy are dangerous as are th fumes if you try to burn it down. That can be very serious.

[dcgrl]

If you're averse to chemicals, there's a woman in Durham who rents out her goats to eat brush, including poison ivy.

The Goat Patrol

[scrappinJudy]

that is too cool about the Goat Patrol!!!!

[adlnc07]

I love it - I would have totally hired the goats to clear my lot last year! Much more fun than college kids!

[hula]

Oh, if only we'd known of this before! What a great idea!

[senalj]

Uh, who cleans up the goats' "emissions"?

[mishellina]

LOL... great idea!! But then as senalj said....who cleans the poop?? Of course my dog who loves rabbit poop would probably be in heaven!

[uncletupelo]

Are you sure that is not just plain ivy crawling up your trees? This is very common. It will cost around $400 per tree to remove if they are large trees.