Thanks! That means a lot! I can't wait to see how it progresses!

I have a woodland too..isn't it mind boggling how plants of all kinds multiply in a woodland?..I was out taking pics today and saw plants in some areas covering every inch..I hope you reach your goal..

Lots of work good job. I've done similar clearing in the past and could do a lot more but my get up and go seems to have got up and gone.

Old Dirt - LOL!

I get where you are coming from. A few years back when I got the hosta bug, I dug out backhoes of sod so I would have more room for the endless orders I got. I think now how my back has got up and left too. Oh to be 8 years younger again. Indymom, It will be absolutely beautiful and you have a great start on your proposed plan. One thing about stinging nettle, the land is very rich and once you get a handle on it . It will be great rich soil. In a previous home we had , I took the lawnmower with the bagger and mowed it first and it was much easier to get rid of. Makes beautiful compost too,

My first thought is poison ivy strength Roundup

Good job and post. We have Ivy growing in the back corner of our lot here when we moved here 5 years ago. So far it is staying tame. This year I noticed it crawling up a tree. I was thinking about replacing it with Clematis virginiana but thought it might be too invasive. It's a pretty shady spot - so maybe more Hosta??? It really hasn't done much. but maybe I should get rid of it while I can.

Indymom, you sure have a lot on your plate. I dug out ground cover last year in droves. In fact, I ruined my shoulder doing it. Anyway, I was just going to say that as difficult as this job is, I am sure it’s nothing compared to the last 18-20 years leading up to being an empty nester. You have great focus, keep up the good job!! 👍🏽

debra

Gardening seems to be hard on everyone. I dug stuff out of our woodland and had a great time until my back started to act up. The areas under cultivation are more than any sane person needs already, so it was a good sign to stop.

I don't react to poison ivy, but family members do. I'd do as Jon suggests, and kill the stuff before removing it. It's too easy to brush against a sofa or have traces left in the laundry. Son #2 reacts to the tiniest bit.

Have fun with your project.

nicholsworth-thanks! I just want variety and a friendlier more interactive backyard to enjoy. It has been tremendously fun observing the area. Why did the other owner want this for their backyard? I might be opening up a pandora's box and want to put English ivy back. Okay, no I don't but it has been a fun experience!!

Old dirt-thanks so much! I'm in my early 40's-there are some days that have felt like that!! I'm keeping the eye on the prize. DH doesn't care that I'm doing this, but also doesn't want to participate in helping. Which is fine-I know my limitations. He did come out to the area I cleared last week and was shocked at how much had been done...I'm not sure what he thought I had been doing!! Haha!

almost hooked-thank you-I absolutely love your gardens! I fear taking the lawnmower to it with all of the debris below (lots and lots of old limbs) and that gosh-darned poison ivy. I had a bad run in with it about ten years ago where it took two months to get rid of, two scripts of prednisone and two shots. Ugh! So, I will happily spray it and hazmat suit myself in there to get it or maybe hire someone!

djacobz-Oh no-I hope your shoulder is feeling better! We have had a pretty easy go with DD. Sometimes she can be fiesty-she is a red head-but has great things going for her! She is adorable and told DH and I the other day she's going to miss us. She's only going to college about 2 hours away, but with the pandemic and being together so much the last 3 1/2 months we've really bonded.

Jeanette

Thanks Mad planter! I often wonder how our forefathers worked day to day like they did and the toll it took on their bodies. I do like Jon's idea and have been spraying it down.

I've become a fan of poison ivy killer delivered from a hose-end sprayer. Wow, what an effective way to kill undercover brush along with poison ivy. This spring I cleared a woodland path on a small hill next to my back garden. The summit and one side of the hill was overgrown with poison ivy. I sprayed the summit heavily one day, and went down the path spraying to its side where the poison ivy was growing as far as the hose spray would reach. I waited a week, and boy did those vines and small plants die. I waited another week and raked the dead mess out. I pulled the vines up to get the underground runners, and they were definitely dead. I recommend using this process if you don't have a problem with using commercial brush killers. The poison doesn't stay in the soil. It gets into the plant via the leaves and goes down to the roots, killing the whole plant. Once the plant is dead and raked away, the poison is no longer sitting around to mess with new plants you may put in. There may be a waiting period before replanting just to make sure... I didn't read that part of the small print instructions.

Your garden is lovely. More of that is good!

I've been tearing out wild violets, that chameleon plant which is so invasive and tons of grasses for years. Why I ever thought ground cover looked nice I don't remember must have been a moment of madness, but that's a different discussion! I also had a bad episode with either poison ivy or oak several years ago and needed tons of super strong steroid salve for my arms--now I can't go anywhere near the stuff without breaking out in a rash. I also have sprays and soaps on hand, just in case I have another encounter with poison ivy. We have a new next door neighbor who I have to encourage to get rid of the mess at the back of his lot, anything that grows there always migrates into our beds. I plan to bribe him with some plants just to get his area cleaned out and finally stop the spread into my hostas in my yard next to his. Indymom I sure admire your work ethic, that's a lot of hard work you've done. Keep us posted.