Living in the Northwest with a disaster of a yard, any yard experts that can make some suggestions?

OK, so my wife and I bought our first house last year. Not long after moving in we found out that there was a problem with our sewer pipe. By the time the developer found the pipe to repair it, he had dug holes all over the yard (it is a 100 year old house, so it was difficult to find). That effectively destoyed the grass and has caused the soil to sink where they filled it back in. On top of this, I have a bad blackberry and bindweed problem.

My thought was just to reduce my yard to dirt and start over, but if anyone here knows how to fix the various problems, I'd love the advise.

To sum it up, I can use some help with: 1. blackberries, 2. bindweed, and 3. regrowing the grass when thats all done.

Thanks!

Answers:
Wow, you do have issues. Honestly, I would start over. Spray w/kill all and give it a couple weeks to kill off all the vegetation. Then, either rent a tiller or if its a big yard, have someone come in w/a tractor and roto hoe attachment and chop in all up and grade it to fill the low spots you mentioned. I would then have it Hydro-seeded. If you think that's too much money (and price it both ways and take under consideration the time you will spend) buy seed, fertilizer, and cover (straw will work) and go to work. Water it every day for the first couple of weeks, then every other for two more.

Big job, but it sounds like too much to piece it out.

Good Luck

Other answers:
Don't stop there! While the tractor is moving the dirt around, correct any other problems that will save you from many headaches later on. Like sunken ground around the foundation, make sure no run off water heads for your house and is directed away from it.
Don't stop there! While the tractor is moving the dirt around, correct any other problems that will save you from many headaches later on. Like sunken ground around the foundation, make sure no run off water heads for your house and is directed away from it.
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