1. I have vowed to no longer waste my time on stone fruits as they are so disease prone in my yard.

2. kind of late for planting, I consider July 15 the deadline for collards, kale, etc to make it through the winter. You could try brassica that mature very rapidly like Gai Lohn, Chinese cabbage, maybe some lettuce, or starts already partly grown. Sticking some whole turnip roots in the ground might get you turnip greens in the spring, which are fantastic. Even bush beans with a 45 day maturity have failed to yield for me planted now. That is because the days are getting shorter and the nights cooler.

3. Cut them to the ground and blanket them with black plastic or newspaper.

Thanks!

I've decided to try propagating the cherry. It will take until spring to know if it succeeds, I'm hopeful.

Yes, I'll continue planting lettuce and of course, garlic in October. I hope to plant some fruit trees and shrubs in fall and/or spring. Meanwhile I'll dream about next spring.

That sounds like good advice. I'll have to collect a lot of newspaper, since we're talking about a .25 acre small wooded ravine. It will take years. I bought some roundup, but I don't think I can bring myself to use it.