" Red Rosin paper has ALUM in it, which contains ALUMINUM. Aluminum toxicity in plants is very well documented. Don't put Red Rosin paper in your garden or yard unless you want to kill everything that is under it, and everything that is may use the water contaminated by the paper " Well, that's more than a bit overstated!! ALUM does not directly translate to ALUMINUM - there are alums that contain other chemical compounds, specifically potassium alum, which is used extensively as a mordant or fixative with dyeing and is referred to as papermaker's alum. This is the alum used with red rosin paper. btw, aluminum toxicity with plants is very case sensitive. Some plants are sensitive and will react adversely and others are unaffected. But the paper will not "kill everything under it". In fact, there is so little alum/aluminum involved that it is not a serious concern...or any concern at all. FWIW. aluminum sulfate is a common soil amendment.........

Round-up is sudden death for roses.... or any type of weed-killer...... either dig-dig-dig and get those roots up out of there, or do like I do, take some roofing shingles and lay on the weed and suffocate it.... leave it there for several weeks, and if you can't stand the look of the shingles just throw a bit of mulch on them..... sally

You want to use a weed killer after a pre-emergent? That's fine. Just follow the bottle instructions and you're good to go, and make sure the weeds you're killing are a) sprouted, b) actively growing, and c) killed by the weed killer you're applying. Seriously, you'd be surprised. :-)

Hey you might find this webinar useful https://www.facebook.com/newdirectionsintheamericanlandscape/videos/1751078705044726/ the speaker talks about weeding, planting and maintenance of different lawn alternatives. I wouldn't break up the soil or add manure. The native plants you choose should thrive on the conditions you have if they're matched thoughtfully.