Question
I just bought a new home this fall here in Pittsburgh.My question is I have a steep hillside that is not lawnmower  friendly and its  tough using a weed whacker. So what are some good groundcovers and how do you get started ?                                                                         
                     



How do you get rid of the grass?



     Thanks

Answer
Generally, if there is lawn already established, you'll want it dead at the roots.  If you dig it up, its unlikely you're going to get all the little rizomes if its that kind of "nasty" grass.  Be sure those plants and trees you want to keep are clearly outside the "kill zone" (tree roots are particularly tough to avoid). Another method is using "solar" power, with traps and time - about 6 to 9 weeks, if you want to be more "environmentally friendly".  Either way, the grass has got to be dead.

Then, you can either cut it and remove using a sod-cutter (a gizmo with a blade and rollers that strips up lawn line carpeting), OR rip it up by hand/shovel/hoe, etc.

Thats the tough part.  The actual planting of new groundcover is a breeeze, compared to the preparation of the slope!

As far as groudcover types - check out this link for Pennsylvania hearty slope covers...(I think Pittsburg is in a Zone 6)

http://www.penpages.psu.edu/penpages_reference/29401/29401158.html

Just this morning I specified some Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltoni' for a slope in a subdivision. This stuff is low and bullet-proof in our Hot/Dry/Cold desert climate.  Thankfully, Pittsburg has more choices.

Good luck!