A first year garden can be really "weedy", but keep in mind that most all of what w do refer to as "weeds", unwanted plant growth, are also wild flowers that can harbor beneficial insects, pollinators and predators. You could till the area and till in those "weeds" adding them to the organic matter in the soil and seed a cover crop, some of which have allelopathic (growth suppressing)properties, or cover the area with a good mulch (tree leaves are good here). Have a good reliable soil test done as well, now, so any amendments necessary can be added now and be ready for use next growing season. Contact your counties office of the University of Maryland Cooperative Extension Service about that soil test. In addition you may want to use these simple soil tests to help guide you in making the soil into a good healthy soil. 1) Soil test for organic matter. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24 hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight. For example, a good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top. 2) Drainage. Dig a hole 1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drainsâ too quickly and needs more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up. 3) Tilth. Take a handful of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a finger that clump should fall apart. 4) Smell. What does your soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria will be and the nicer your soil will smell. 5) Life. How many earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that is not healthy. Here is a link that might be useful: UMD CES

Chop or shred those viney things a bit. Your mix sounds good and you may be surprised to learn it can heat up this fall if the mix and moisture is right. If you can get a few grass clippings you can have a real steamer even in October. No need to try to heat it up next spring, just turn it once late this fall and again as soon as you can in the spring. You may have compost by planting time. Start a new pile in the spring and when you use the first pile, toss any uncomposted stuff into the new pile. Always use compost when it's done, it can be used as a top dressing even in mid-season Activator products are not necessary, everything the compost pile needs is already there. Kind of a gimmick in the opinion of most if not all compost geeks.

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OMG, don't get me started on landscapers - a property I used to manage until last year (it was sold), had a beautiful mature flowering dogwood in front of the building - at least 35 years old. I stopped by to say hello to one of the tenants and was appalled to see the tree had been cut down. It was sad to see the stark empty space and weeping stump - it actually hurt my heart. Apparently the new owners told the landscapers to use their judgement in clearing out some of the foundation shrubbery and they thought it was appropriate to cut down a stunning native tree, no less one that is at risk in the wild. These are the people who are employed to maintain the land? They are obviously idiots who have NO idea what they're doing!! Okay, I needed to vent that! Meadows, please feel free to peruse my exchange list - you are welcome to send me an email and do a SASBE.