i was wondering about regional options... so i am glad.. my shotgun attempt hit something .... lol ... my point was ... OP is in a box .. of FIXING WHAT IS THERE ... i asked him to step out of the box ... and think along other lines ... depending of course.. on budget etc ... and immediacy of goals ... if i had crumb munchers... and i wanted a green lawn for them to play in.. i would not waste a year or two.. trying to renovate this alleged lawn ... there are times and places for checkbook gardening ... and if lawn is supremely important ... then spend the money ... it would be no different.. in a new house.. as updating a kitchen counter.. or replacing carpet ... just think of it as outdoor carpet ... and finally ... you could end up spending a heck of a lot of money trying to save this stuff ... and maybe.. end up spending more than sod will ever cost you .... good luck ken ps: of course.. if you are the pick up the gauntlet.. and this will not defeat me .. and i will die trying to overcome it.. good luck.. i am just playing off your need.. as you stated.. of walking around barefoot ... in the very near future ...

First off, you should understand that a weed is growing there because the soil is poor and the weed has no problem pushing out any grass that wants to come in. And, if you cut a weed...and not get the root....it comes back stronger and bigger than it was before. So, when you just cut them with your mower, you are doing them a favor. You don't want to use chemicals. When I hear that from some people who I think don't realize the importance of just what chemistry has done for us I recall a well-known ad from an American company... :better things, for better living.....thru chemistry. Your wish to not use chemicals then brings up the need to learn about "organic" gardening--natural methods of controlling how your soil grows plants. That is a long-term fix. The amount of soil problems will determine what you have to do. Fist off I'd say your soil is under-nourished. You could get a soil test done. Your local state funded college extension service is your best bet or possibly the local full-service nursery may do these tests. Soil tests generally will tell you what your soil needs to perform what plants you have in mind. If you do decide the job of getting rid of the weeds by inorganic method you can resort to the use of "Roundup"...a non-selective weed killer that will kill anything and everything green. It does allow you to re-plant within a specified time--usually about 3 weeks. Other broadleafed weed killers kills most weeds, but leaves the natural grass unharmed. I would recommend you do a complete aeration of the area with a rented machine. This removes plugs which can help relieve compacted soil. Then the plugs are allowed to compost back into the soil. Overseeding of grass (you choose the proper type) followed by topping of a good topsoil or compost spread 1/2" over the entire area every spring, every fall. This builds organic matter into the soil which promotes growth of grass and other plants. Depending on the size of the area, this can be rather expensive so the need to find a trusted soil dealer comes into the picture. Then proper watering and fertilizing can help bring you the lawn you desire. Again, staying 'organic' not using chemical fertilizers, can delay your lawn result. Do some research yourself about "organic gardening" and what that entails. You may wish to re-evaluate your wish to not use chemicals. The juniper roots that are still there are sending up stems and will continue to do so for a time but eventually will die off. Just keep cutting them with the lawnmower. If you decide to sod the area, you must get rid of any grass that is there. Sod will not root if it has to fight its way past grass roots already there. Digging up the area, turning it over, you should then add at least 6" of good topsoil (compost preferably) and turn that under. Weeds can be removed as you unearth them and yes, any weed roots missed will come back. You could treat them as you see them. If hubby has a propane torch, you can burn them out. Short term methods can also employ something that burns the roots. Window glass, letting the sun d the work, laid over the area will kill the weeds in no time. Vinegar will kill weeds but will also affect nearby greenery. Overlaying of a material that prevents sunlight can also work. But this method is long-term.

Hi George, (Glad you shared your first name in the "First names, please" thread) Quite an addiction we have, huh, when we buy more DLs than we have room for (or what we mapped out for during the winter months!) I have planted all the various ways described above, except for Lasagna gardening, and Jean's way in the Spring. (Now Jean, you just gave me another excuse to order more DLs!) I have found that tilling w/o removing the sod, will eventually result in many tufts of grass coming back, and it's a real pain to get rid of after your DLs come up. My father (who plowed under my first garden about 9 years ago) told me the sod must be overturned to a depth of 12-14" to guarantee that it won't come back. But back then he was talking about a very fertile area that used to be a cow pasture - the grass grew three times as fast as in other areas. A neighbor tilled a new garden area for me last fall, when he saw me removing sod. He told me, "That's too much work for you. Let me till it for you. Don't worry, the grass won't re-grow." Well, guess what - the grass came back, because he didn't till deep enough. I should have refused his offer and continued to remove sod in the first place! I don't like to use Round-up unless absolutely necessary. The digging is good exercise, anyway! Maybe this fall, plan ahead, and start a new garden area with newspapers & mulch, or plan for a Lasagna garden. I'm sure your newly arriving DLs will survive, no matter what you do. We sometimes take better care of our plants than we do ourselves! Just don't break your back! Hope you have a wonderful gardening year! Julie

Really good advise Alexa. I especially love the lazy garden method. I have used newspapers also and it works like a charm. The only suggestion I have to add is, since we garden on a smaller suburban lot and can't hide a composting area, we have recycled the sod. What I mean is, remove the sod then double dig. Or dig a larger trench and turn your sod upside down (curl the ends under). This way it will break down naturally and enhances the soil as it break down. I look at it this way, because years ago we invested in sodding the yard and now we are removing it (crazy), I am still utilizing my investment! lol