What’s next for a west facing weed patch?

[int'l Beetle]

I've got a Utah front yard that used to be mulch and tall grasses but now it's weeds in every direction. Could solarizing work here or would you clear it 1st and start fresh?

 

[The Pulp]

I really think front yards in dry states like Utah should just ditch the whole "grass and mulch" idea, go full xeriscape with native rock and desert plants. Solarizing's fine, but why fight weeds when you can design a landscape that doesn't need constant battles to survive?

 

[int'l Beetle]

I've been leaning that way more and more. Just not sure if I can get away with leaving the existing mess in place without some prep first. Did you clear your space before adding rock or go straight over it? Timing-wise, I'm wondering if early fall gives me enough stretch to prep without losing momentum.

 

[plantguysteve55]

My yard got messy too, mulch wore out and weeds grew everywhere. I used a hoe and rake to clean up the worst parts first, then covered the ground with plastic for about 6 weeks in the hot summer sun. That really helped kill the weed seeds. If your weeds are thick, it might be good to clear some before solarizing. What do you plan to grow after?

 

[int'l Beetle]

The 6-wk stretch under plastic lines up well with what I was thinking for late summer prep, especially with the heat we've had lately. Still debating whether to carve out a few pockets for seasonal color or go full low-maintenance across the board. Did you end up planting anything after solarizing, or did you proceed directly to hardscaping? If I start clearing this weekend, I should be able to hit the plastic phase before September and still have time to plant before the frost rolls in.