@Frillylilly: That picture of yours could be picture of my backyard AND part of my front yard. I have my front yard split into left and right side, with a walkway in between. I have cleaned ( I really hope it is clean) 1/2 of my left front yard. I do not have a big property, only 1/8 of an acre including the house. I have pulled all my irises and dug the roots of the Bermuda grass and bindweeds in that 1/2. I went around my roses and I did not pull them out but I have extracted the roots as best as I can with all kinds of tools. I am almost 80 but I am stubborn! I found a rose aerator from DeWit. Sneeboer has it too, very expensive, but it really helps me. It has 2 prongs and I use it to dig--, then I use my cobrahead trowel or any of my numerous favorite handtools to pry the roots off from the rose roots. It took me a long time, I really hope that part does not have any bindweeds nor Bermuda grass. I work a little spot at a time. Usually I just dig out my irises and clean it, then plant it again. I cannot do that with my rose bushes. I have also bought some herbicide and plan to use it for the other parts, very carefully. Lets encourage each other! and not give up! I have bought all kinds of tools from DeWit and Sneeboer. And I also have all kinds of garden forks and spade, if I need stronger ones than the 2 prongs one.
