Awesome story and pictures, terrene. How long ago did you do that? (I assume that photos as verdant as those probably aren't from 2010 yet in deepest darkest Massachusetts). Are there good or bad times of year to do it? I'm interested in how the results turn out over time. I like the method of using cardboard or newspaper with a layer of mulch or wood chips or compost or some other organic matter over top to smother weeds, and I've used that technique myself in some situations. So far I've had mixed results using it on deep-rooted, rhizomatous perennial weeds, though. I think it's especially useful for weeds like the Vinca minor you mentioned, which is quite resistant to Round Up, and forms a vigorous and tangled mat of stems and foliage on and near the surface of the soil. The biodegradable smothering method is perfect for it. I'm curious how well it works on something like the goldenrod, which has a much more substantial rootstock, and could conceivably persist underground for a while and try to eventually sprout back through the wood chips and the cardboard as it starts to decompose. And the quackgrass and Canada thistle that flowers4nancy mentioned could be even worse. But maybe not; I don't have enough experience with this approach to weeding to really know. It would seem that if nothing else, this technique might at least result in fewer, more widely spaced weeds remaining, which would then be easier to dig out or spray with Round Up individually, as opposed to the overwhelming jungle of weeds you started out with. And the cardboard/newspaper method could be a particularly good strategy for someone like flowers4nancy, who said she needed a low-intensity approach to weed control. It sure beats hand-weeding!

First, I want to thank all of you who offered advice. You are so open and willing to give advice to a stranger. This forum is a wonderful tutorial on many topics. I've learned a great deal by reading old posts, and know I have much more to learn. Spruce: I wanted to tell you that "Knowing Your Trees" arrived last week. The copyright is 1947, 9th and revised printing, November 1947, 806 illustrations, so it must be similar to your copy. The book is exceptional. Before it arrived, I bought two field guides on Eastern Trees (Peterson and Nat'l Audubon Soc) - the layout and design of each is quite different. So far, I prefer "Knowing Your Trees" (except it won't fit in a pocket); it presents a great deal of information about each tree and the illustrations are outstanding. I took the advice I received here, loaded up with tulip trees and red maples, a white oak, a Shumard oak (which is in dire straits), a pin oak, a tupelo. Also bald cypresses, dawn redwoods, river birches, and sweet bay magnolias. I'm looking for more oaks and conifers (except loblollies) but should probably wait until fall. I don't know how many trees this property will support. We've had near constant 15-25 mph winds for 3 weeks so I'm having difficulty planting the remaining trees. All the leaves on the Shumard oak are brown and desiccated. The maples were blowing over so I started using rebar - so far, this is working. I also want to thank you for the warning about thistles. We have a bounteous supply everywhere. I ended up killing them wherever I found them, by whatever method was handy (roundup, chopping). They grow so fast, I'm still at it. Spruce, on a personal note, I hope your surgery is behind you and your shoulder is better. I had back surgery a few years ago (rewired with titanium parts). I procrastinated until I was having great difficulty doing nearly everything. Less than 3 weeks after surgery, I was walking 3 miles a day and all pain and numbness vanished. I know I am very fortunate in having such a good outcome. I also had an excellent surgeon who LOVES backs. I have questions about how to do a mixed planting of hardwoods and conifers either along a long driveway or maybe in the field so it looks natural. I'll create a different post on that topic since it may be of interest to others. Take care, Pam

And here I thought it was a smaller thistle. I may just have to rethink this one. I can just imagine how may times I would run into a big thistle if it were on the balcony. My balcony looks like a jungle during the summer so a large weed would fit right in. lol Mike

Based on your photos, the two most likely Cirsium species for the DC area are discolor and pumilum. If discolor, the lower surface of the leaves will be densely white-tomentose, and the green surface underneath won't be visible. If the lower leaf surface is more thinly white-tomentose and some green is visible, then C. pumilum is indicated.