I guess I really need to hear pros and cons for just literally digging everything up and out and replanting? is this even feasible?

I can't do that. Yes it is feasible, but you will need a place to stage the stuff you want to keep. I used to do it in my 20's. 30's, and 40's, but I am 66 and it is just not happening. It is 19 years of neglect while I was working and I can't catch up.

Yes, it is feasible. And is often done to overgrown, unkempt gardens. However, this is not an ideal time of year to do so and some plants, primarily anything with a permanent woody framework (trees and shrubs), often are extremely difficult to dig up successfully due to an extensive root system and generally will not take to this process as well as herbaceous perennials. But with some care and skill and a lot of hard work it can be done :-)

If located in Georgia, I would suggest you plan this sort of wholesale clean-out for fall when temperatures are cooler and plants begin to shut down for the season. Or early next spring before active growth really gets started. And you will need to figure out somewhere safe to 'store' the dug up plants until the area has been thoroughly cleared of weeds and brush.

And sometimes it just makes the most sense to hire the work done :-) You just need to be diligent about who you hire and their ability to do the job properly.

You could cut back the trash stuff and do the weed killer now. Then in the fall do a complete redo. That is my plan. I am also going to reduce the size of some of the beds.

I have tree of heaven, princess tree, pine trees, crepe myrtles, silver maples, privet, trumpet vine, ect. My first thrust is to kill all of the trash.

Before I moved, I had the same problem after going back to work and not having the time or energy to keep up. I gradually cut back on the size of the beds and replanted grass. I also replaced any high-maintenance perennials with shrubs and mulched heavily. Then I moved to a smaller lot, lol.

And the things you like but are just too big, cut it back or head it back from the inside out

There's not enough information. Could you post an overall photo of the space so we have an idea of the size and degree of degradation that you're talking about? Are there things that you're trying to retain? What?

I know about Georgia summers. :). Have you considered just putting that area to lawn? I would suggest pricing out weed removal and sodding. If that's too much, weed whack it down, moisten a bunch of cardboard and cover the areas with cardboard and a bit of mulch to weigh the cardboard down. Leave it over winter then pull back (weeds should be smothered) and seed in Spring. Grass is really the easiest as mowing will make quick work of anything that attempts to grow bigger than an inch or two.

If you want your garden beds back, do the same smothering method except don't pull anything back in the Spring. Just makes holes and plant. Put thick layer of mulch after planting to discourage weeds (not right against new plants). I'm thinking if you don't get out there occasionally to weed or if you don't renew your mulch yearly, your garden beds will run wild again in just a few years.

I need to do the mulching for sure, that has helped a lot in the past, the repeating of mulching each year has been sporadic..but it has been done... I will get some pictures..there are beds around the entire perimeter except for a walkway at the front, on all 4 sides of the house, and a back garden area that is about 15 x 30 ish that I'm looking at..oh and a swing in the middle of the yard surrounded by amazon weed growth, vines etc. I'll get pics. I wish I could find pics of how it once looked!!!

also could I spot kill stuff? I have volunteer crepe myrtles all in one bed, and the swing area has ridiculous thorny vines and small trees? same with the garden spot..

OK, you asked for it, and I'm bearing my soul and risking embarrassment to show you this hot mess...so be kind..I know it's aweful. I also know it had a great look once upon a time! and the down side is that I too am not as able to get out there and do the work to keep it all up but it drives DH crazy and he wants it all fixed. so I need reasonable solutions.

Yours doesn't look near as bad as what I started with. Yes, you can spot kill. That is what I am doing with the trash trees. You paint the weed killer on the fresh cut stump with a cheap paint brush. I haven't got any yet, but I saw Round Up in a gel formula the other day.

I don't like using Round Up, but that is the only way I am going to get caught up.

Wow, I was expecting much worse! It's not so bad. I live in SC and I was expecting a total kudzu and choke cherry patch. It really looks like it just needs a good weeding and edging in my opinion. Hire a gardener to come out and help you prioritize what you want to keep or get rid of, and talk about what is feasible with your desired level of maintenance. Good luck.. it will be fall in another 4 months, lol :)

Yeah, that's not nearly as bad as I expected either!! I visit clients' yards much worse than that routinely :-)

One of the ways you can make the work more manageable is to prioritize the areas needing attention and then focus on the priorities in order. Go through one and finish the work completely, including the mulch, before moving on to the next. Typically, the first priority would be the entry area (as that's what visitors see first) and then fan out from there. But you can really address any area you wish first. Just make sure you finish one area completely before moving on to the next :-))

well thanks everyone, the gentleman who helps with our lawn maintenance is going to tackle it with me..so we will see what we can get done. I thought it was pretty badly overgrown and my DH is even worse. he said the side bed on the right should be dug up completely and sod put down lol..he's a neat freak. wish me luck!!!

My husband is not allowed to touch my flower beds. He can cut the grass as much as he likes. I made quite of bit of progress the last two days. All of the trash trees are gone and the stumps painted with Round Up Brush Killer.

I agree ... not near as bad as I expected. Looks totally reclaimable. When weeding, make sure you get all roots. Don't break tops off and expect the plant not to come back. To start with, I'd clearly define the bed edge with spray marking paint and stop any grass from encroaching into the area. Actually, I'd take the opportunity to IMPROVE the bed line. In some places the bed is too narrow and in other places, too wavy. Or beds around trees are too small for those trees. If you want help with that return with a base plan. The veggie garden area looks like it needs the most total kill.