feel overwhelmed by disaster property-what to do??? (lawn, landscape, growing)

[amyla]

We moved into our house in October-the homeowner had nothing but ivy/poison ivy, overgrown junipers, unkept bushes. It is about a 1/2 acre of corner property and it looks terrible. If we remove the ivy and bushes, what will come out from under the dirt that is left behind? Do you think it will then just be weed ridden. It is going to be an expense to remove and we are aftaid we will be just making it look worse. There are sprinklers that we need to fix on that side as well. BTW, we are in NY. Thanks-any advice or direction would be appreciated.

[hotzcatz]

Generally, unless you plant or seed something you want whatever comes up will be "weeds". Can the juniper and bushes be trimmed back until you decide what to do with the area? Perhaps if you just cleaned up a small area of it you'd get a feel for what grows well there. Or each time the lawn was mowed you could "reclaim" an extra couple of feet from the overgrown territory so it wouldn't seem such a huge job?

[33458]

Originally Posted by amyla

We moved into our house in October-the homeowner had nothing but ivy/poison ivy, overgrown junipers, unkept bushes. It is about a 1/2 acre of corner property and it looks terrible. If we remove the ivy and bushes, what will come out from under the dirt that is left behind? Do you think it will then just be weed ridden. It is going to be an expense to remove and we are aftaid we will be just making it look worse. There are sprinklers that we need to fix on that side as well. BTW, we are in NY. Thanks-any advice or direction would be appreciated.

HA! I feel your pain...after moving in, spent last summer ripping out scrubby weeds and P.I by the roots with a pick-ax. See profile pics...and that's after the first few rounds, maybe 6 months in. It was just full - everywhere - of nasty, ugly, thorned and itchy stuff. Also half an acre. Am tackling the trees this year, little by little. I figure it'll take 4-5 years to get this lot in shape. The clay/rock soil here needs much amending. At least in N.Y. your chances of real dirt improve.

The large Cedar Junipers we have growing on the Northern easement are...messy...but the birds LOVE them. So what I'm doing is trimming off the lower branches, opening up the space underneath - amazing how much better even my preliminary effort appears. From there I'll work in a shady rock garden.

The forest will become an enchanted but wild woodland landscape.

The 8 large planting beds that surround the house will all eventually be reclaimed.

Here for support.

Oh - start by trimming back the bushes. Way back. Shape naturally or make a hedge. Just check local ordinances first...some jurisdictions are picky about how a homeowner does what, even if it is an improvement. Don't take them out until you know what they are...

Use an iron rake to pull out the Ivy that has become invasive and trim back with clippers or an edger - I mean English or Boston...can be kept neat but it takes diligence. I have that and BAMBOO (yikes) covering my Southern easement and the trees, too.

How do you feel about moss and fern?

[harry chickpea]

Uhhhh, 1/2 acre??? Overwhelmed??? My garden is bigger than that and I just rototilled it today after visiting with a neighbor for half the day. Spray glyco-phopsphate, do the same, and re-sod.

[Elke Mariotti]

Originally Posted by amyla

We moved into our house in October-the homeowner had nothing but ivy/poison ivy, overgrown junipers, unkept bushes. It is about a 1/2 acre of corner property and it looks terrible. If we remove the ivy and bushes, what will come out from under the dirt that is left behind? Do you think it will then just be weed ridden. It is going to be an expense to remove and we are aftaid we will be just making it look worse. There are sprinklers that we need to fix on that side as well. BTW, we are in NY. Thanks-any advice or direction would be appreciated.

Where in NY are you located? If you're on Long Island, I'd gladly share some of my perennials with you , especially hostas...

[amyla]

Originally Posted by Elke Mariotti

Where in NY are you located? If you're on Long Island, I'd gladly share some of my perennials with you , especially hostas...

Thanks but we are going to look on working on the other side of the property now (about 1/3 acre)-its covered in trees-wooded-and thinking of taking down the dead and straggly ones-most are-and leaving the big beautiful ones. We want to fence in the area and make a place for the kids to run around-we have no backyard-only side property. As far as the mess of a 1/2 acre on the other side, my neighbors are going to hate it-I don't like it either but I think we are going to have to leave it this year. Thanks for all the great advice everyone.

[North Beach Person]

Get rid of the poison ivy in any case. The best thing is probably what you're planning, do it a chunk at a time.

[wyoquilter]

You could always try contacting Desperate Landscapes on DIY network and see if they will come give you a hand. After every episode they are always asking for folks to send in their desperate landscapes so they can come and fix it.

I have seriously thought about doing it myself, but I don't think mine would be considered all that desperate. Your's on the other hand would probably be considered desperate especially with the poision ivy all over.