sounds like me... i have 'fed' my dirt w/ compost, laying down newspaper and cardboard to add nitrogen (the insane amount of worms freaked my dad out, who's a fisherman) and keep weeds at bay, then i had to start buying lowe's cheap mulch. it's such good dirt, the thistle is having a field day. but the plan is to bulldoze the front. hopefully it wont take over the 125-yr+ rhododendron bushes i have. it has made me so angry, i feel like there s/b a clazz action lawsuit against that store.