We bought this house 4 years ago and the overgrowth was too much to deal with. We have taken care of other things first, but I want to start tackling the sides of the house ASAP.
The first spring, we pulled weeds from a different section and it, of course, just came back.
I don't want to use weed killer or chemicals unless we absolutely have to. We have over 100 species of birds that come through and I have a few bird houses on the property.
I WANT to dig it all up, get rid of it, plant new soil and go from there. I have read that you shouldn't have any plants within a few feet of the house/foundation, and we already have a bug problem in the house. We have ants all the time even after repeated rounds of spraying the outside of the house (I know I don't want chemicals but I can't deal with ants in the kitchen and bathroom).
I understand that destroying some plants makes it worse at certain times of the year, such as wild mustard, which we do have.
Should we use a weed wacker to get rid of a lot of it but leave enough room to pull the weeds from the ground? Should we use an excavator to dig up the soil around the house?
I'd like to put rocks along the house after removing the plants so we don't have to deal with gardening, but I know it also requires maintenance every year or every couple of years.
The house is on an angled yard, and has a walkout basement, so we have to consider water run-off.
The photos are of one side/corner of the house. The other back corner of the house is very similar.
Located in Wisconsin, if that matters.
by Casuariidae