Yes I'm thinking of doing that. The dirt is kind of compact do you think I could just take the grass out with a shovel. I took a lot out today but some of them have that deep white root that just goes under really deep. So I should use a tiller to till out most of the grass. Then put some kind of plastic tarp or something to prvent the weed from growing. Then put on a layer of mulch. Then pour the soil over and start building the retaining wall then add perennials. Do you think one layer of plastic is enough?

Sealing the entry is essential. And they will still find their way in, so check your perimeter periodically, crawlspace, attic, etc. We've had squirrels in our attic & walls for years - YEARS! We keep patching and sealing, and they keep breaking thru. I suspect there is a hidden hole somewhere that is not reachable by an adult human. The critters dig holes to get under the foundation, they chew holes in wood siding, tear hardware wire screens, and once gained access thru plumbing vents on the roof, clogging our plumbing with pine cones! Recently they've been chewing their way into the interior of the house - there are two big holes in our interior wall panel near the ceiling. I keep patching them up, and the squirrels keep chewing them open. I came home recently to find one critter had entered our living space thru those holes, run around the house chewing up anything paper like, and then climbed back up the wall and out the same holes. In it's attempt to climb back up the wall, it knocked over two lamps, a hanging picture, and some large items on a nearby shelf. Interestingly, there were no droppings anywhere in the house after this, though in the past I've found urine dripping from the ceiling. If I knock the ceiling panel in various places of our house, I can hear gravel (nesting? pine cones & seeds? rocks? droppings?) bouncing around. I've called several "pest control" companies, and no one even wants to touch this one. They all give us the same advice: Bait them into humane traps, then seal the point-of-entry. Problem is, it's not just a one time thing - where I live, there are more squirrels than humans. We're having our roof replaced soon, so maybe they'll find something there. Friend: They're sooo cuuute! Me: They're destructive, disgusting, and evil! Friend: What's wrong with YOU today? Me: You have no idea the hell these critters have put me thru. Friend: But they're sooo cuuute!

I don't have easy answers for you short of hiring a specialty cleaning company to come in and do it for you. It's a huge job. Here's how I approached it -- maybe it will help you. First, if you're using your furnace, change out the filter regularly. Remove and clean draperies, pillows, throws, rugs, doodads, etc. You'll probably want to have carpets and upholstered furniture professionally cleaned. Every single surface and item needs to be cleaned, including ceiling, furniture, light fixtures, windows, walls and floors. Start from the top and work down. Keep rinsing out your cleaning rags and mops, and keep changing your vacuum filters. Good luck!

What sandpaper grits are you using? For clear finishes, I usually sand starting at 100 grit, then 150, then 220. After the 220 grit sanding, I wet down the wood--wet, not dripping/ puddling wet. Let dry & knock down with 320. Wet again, knock down, wet again, knock down. With soft clean wood like you pictured, I would probably start with 150. I've never used sanding sealer so can't comment there. Wood conditioner (which I use) is typically used on soft wood before staining so the stain will be more even. So far, I've used wood conditioner from the big box stores. It does help but isn't foolproof. Charles Neil's Blotch Control is supposed to be really good stuff but I have yet to use it. http://charlesneilwoodworking.3dcartstores.com/Pre-Color-Conditioner--Pre-Mixed--1-Quart--Ready-to-Use_p_47.html?redirect=1