Here's a list of PA natives: https://www.dcnr.pa.gov/Conservation/WildPlants/LandscapingwithNativePlants/Pages/default.aspx

and here;s the PA native plant society: http://www.panativeplantsociety.org/

either or both can help you decide what should stay. I would save the Jewelweed, as it is native, an annual, and won't take over the state.

It sounds like a lot of work, as all gardening is, but it will be fun getting it back into shape.

Here are some pictures of the back yard. My property is not very deep; it ends at the oak next to the log planter. The deep part of the woods belongs to a neighbor that I have never seen.

Rory I know you have posted pics before so try again. Houzz can be glitchy.

pictures will not load. I will try one more time.

Wow, I completely could have written exactly this post three years ago. (Except southeast PA). I pulled up the Lady's Thumb and Dogbane. I did not have Jewelweed, unfortunately, because that I would have kept. I did get rid of the white snakeroot because it seeds so freely I couldn't get on top of any of the other weeds with it there.

Liquid Fence, liberally applied, has done wonders for my deer problem, but they never touched bleeding hearts, ferns, daffodils, brunnera, tiarella, forget-me-nots, foxglove, pachysandra, or ligularia (although no guarantees, my deer may have read the memo posted by my dogs). The hostas, hydrangeas, and lilies of all types are a constant battle.

I got sick of trying to fight back the neighbor's invasives and laid a hard line of logs from trees we had cleared. Now I weed up to that line, and it helps me mentally, even though I curse the wall of green that constantly threatens as I save for a fence.

Japanese stilt grass and garlic mustard are the banes of my existence. Best of luck!

Deer resistant plants for shade include, but are not limited to ferns, northern sea oats, Cimicifugas (now Acteas, I think), Epimediums, Hellebores, Geranium macrorrhizum, Salvia koyame, Pulmonarias, Brunneras, Lamiums, Primulas, and many others less well known.

I’m surprised the deer don’t eat your jewelweed. That’s what they jump my fence for! Esther than pull stilt grass find out from your cooperative extension the right time to cut it and then assault with mower and trimmer. Less work snd you won’t disturb the soil and new seeds. My understanding is that stilt grass does not travel far so you should be able to keep it at bay eventually. Keep pushing ahead with other dense ground covers. By the way, what I don’t know is whether the alleopathic qualities of stilt grass or garlic mustard remain in the severed plant or even dead plant to thwart the natives you and I are encouraging in their place. And anyone know which plants are most vulnerable?

Tried several times to load photos. I have no idea why it's not working?? I loaded photos on the Decorating forum with no problem. This forum they never load.

Anyway, I do have Ferns, Bleeding harts, Bluebells, Snowdrops, Pulmonarias, Brunneras, Lamiums . If it were not for the Lamium I think the yard would have washed away. The Audubon people said the Lamium was something I should get rid of but it's staying until something can replace it that the deer won't browse.

Jenn, I am loving the log line idea and will use it ASAP.

Your picture problem might be solved if you come in through Gardenweb.com instead of Houzz.

Tried through Gardenweb too - no go.

Try resizing the pix. They may be too big.

tj

Yipee - resizing worked! These are taken from the deck.

Ground cover is Lamium. Dirt was stilt grass. Lush green in woods is all stilt grass.

To the left of log path is mostly Lady's Thumb and other assorted weeds. To the right at base of oak is lamium and ajuga.

This is a look I would love.

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You're halfway there! What is your path - chips? My woodland path is woodchips which are quickly invaded by weeds EXCEPT where there are also pine needles. That seems to be the best way to have a clear natural path. Rather than keep hauling and spreading new wood chips I've taken to using a trimmer and just scalping it. There may be better suggestions out there.

Ha! I found the answer to my question about stilt grass in my own notes from a call I made to my cooperative extension last year! Here it is: the entire plant is alleopathic, mainly inhibiting seed germination. So if it's in area where you intend to sow grass or any other seed, PULL the entire plant. If it's in an area where you have or will install plants, just mow or trim before it goes to seed.

It's a toss up which is the bigger problem, stilt grass or my memory...