Help with invasive weeds/fall garden clean up.

Hello!

I recently moved into a place where the previous renters a few years back had permacultured the backyard. However, it's been many many years since it has been maintained and it looks that way. There is a few surviving fruit trees, raspberries, blackberries, etc but most of the yard is covered in invasive weeds (mainly cheatgrass and houndstongue) and dead trees/bushes. It's quite overwhelming, especially as someone as inexperienced as me.  I am happy to hand pull them all but not sure if thats the most effective. I am hoping to do lots this fall on the yard. This will be my first real project so you if you have any suggestions/thoughts on highest priorities before the winter please let me know. Excited about being apart of this community.

Thanks!

Welcome to the forum!

Do you have chipdrop available for free wood chips?  If so get several loads dump on those weeds, At least 6" deep though 12" is even better.

Fall would also be a good time to gather leaves and start a compost pile.

Fall is also a good time to trim those berry bushes.

I would not get too radical, this area being undisturbed may have enriched soil. Look for earthworms and be sure you are making them comfortable. Take things a bit at a time with a long term goal in mind. I am putting my garden to rest for the season and planting winter rye where I can. After some much needed rainfall the earthworms are revived and doing the heavy lifting, let the soil work for you.

Start with the area immediately around the fruit trees and raspberries rather than trying to tackle the whole yard. Get those established first with some chips or mulch, then expand from there. Trying to clear everything at once is how you burn out in the first season.