Mounds make good reasons to add large rocks to the landscape, which will add some variety in natural materials and textures. Also they don't require maintenace. Before building the berms do a quick line-level survey of multiple axis acrosss your yard to determine drainage patters... you don't want a berm to become the Hoover Dam. Also the survey will allow you to know your yard and serve as a the basis for a drawing for planning the berms. Having a grading plan in hand before the dump trucks arrive is a good idea. Allow soil to naturally compact before planting anything major or add the compaction along by using foot-power.

Hey everyone. I just finished applying the Bayer Bermuda Grass Control RTS (ready to spray) to my grass infested with stilt grass. The weather has been so dry here in Central NJ that there has not been adequate soil moisture conducive to an herbicide application unless the turf was under irrigation, which mine is not. After a week or so, I will post my findings to the forum. This herbicide is not available in New Jersey (I tried ordering it through my wholesaler at work) but you can purchase it online. It is a homeowner product unlike Acclain Extra which is for turf professionals. Wish me luck!

I agree with froggy on this one - tough rocky soil is better than rich soil for a nice wildflower meadow. In the northeast, most of the pretty wildflower and grass patches you might see in the wild exist at least in part because the soil is bad. In addition to bad soil, some sort of repeated disturbance is needed to keep out woody plants. Without disturbance your meadow will turn into shrubs then into a forest. Bad soil means that the disturbance won't have to be as frequent as it would with rich soil. Also, rich soil is great for plants that are adapted for rapid growth in high-nutrient, disturbed conditions. These plants are also known as weeds. If your soil is rocky, maybe it is also excessively drained, which will help reduce weed growth. I wouldn't bother to remove the rocks unless they will interefere with your chosen method of "disturbance." For most of us, disturbance means mowing, and rocks could be a problem for the mower. However, you might have the option of using something besides a standard lawn mower, which really isn't great choice anyway ( I find it mows too low even when on the highest setting and can scalp some perennials), in which case rocks might not be a big concern. Many of the showiest wildflowers are at home in poor, rocky, sunny places. I'd include butterflyweed (Asclepias tuberosa), Black eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta), Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa), Nodding Onion (Allium cernuum) in your mix. The grass everyone chooses is Little bluestem, but you could also try Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii) and maybe Sideoats Grama (Boueteloua curtipendula). Other wildflowers such as Goldenrods and Asters will introduce themselves. Good Luck!

Peter, I have been thinking about your question. Planting seed in the fall is the best way. My approach, now, would be to start driving the back roads and collecting fresh seed from the roadside 'weed' plants that have struggled in the heat to survive. Many of them are just coming into bloom, such as the native Liatris and goldenrod, so it will be a while before they set seed. And, as you find them, sow them. There really are some beautiful weeds to be found and the seed is free. Some of it will establish and reseed every year. Some are perennial. Right now, the stores are selling out their out-of-date seed packs for pennies. Look for: Gazania, Anthemis tinctoria, Guara, Baptisia australis, Helianthus simulans, Asclepias tuberosa, Solidago types, Ruellia Brittoniana seeds. Many of the ornamental grasses will grow in your situation. These are easily available at Home Depot, etc. I would suggest that collecting and fall sowing your own fresh seed is probably the best method.