Tilling is not a great idea, since thistles and many other weeds will resprout from tiny bits of root. I would try posting this in the Weeds forum, where you'll no doubt get some expert advice. Good luck!

Here is a link that might be useful: Weeds forum

Ah, I didn't realize there was a Weeds forum! Thanks for the link.

Do you have a mower? If the weeds are on a flat area just running them over with the mower will keep them in check until you find a better solution.
Weeds will grow whenever they have the opportunity. Either put down a mulch to smother them or plant something else that will fill the space. A rototilled area would be the perfect area for more weeds to grow! Don't do it!

Solarize it by covering the area with clear (not black) thick plastic. The weeds will fry and die in around a month, then mulch the area afterwards to keep new weeds from growing.

Spray with round- up, Then cover the area with landscape fabric or black plastic, Actually I covered my area with tarp because it is heavier and I havent had a weed come back yet.

Weeds do seem really bad in Pa this year.we're fighting them.I just pull by the roots,best way I know its a lot of work..

Clear plastic - not black

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74145.html
- -
-

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in856

-
- -

http://www.weekendgardener.net/organic-weed-killer/solarization-100710.htm

Use Clear plastic to solarize - not black plastic

http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn74145.html
- -
-

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/in856

-
- -

http://www.weekendgardener.net/organic-weed-killer/solarization-100710.htm

paula, The site you gave for the weekendgardener in the paragragh How to Solarize Soil Normally and With Modifications it states you can also use black plastic especially in cooler climates.

1. Cook weeds (solarization) using clear plastic.
2. Starve weeds via light deprivation using black plastic.

#1, in places where it works, is faster and more reliable. It also can kill dormant seeds, which #2 does not. So, it's important to use the right term for each method, as they are definitely not two subsets of the same method.
Clear plastic heats up the soil because the soil heats up through radiation. Black plastic's only means of heating the soil is through conduction. As air is a poor conductor, and it's impossible to get 100% contact between soil and plastic, the black plastic is always burning hot but the soil is not.

We always usedblack,no problem

We always usedblack,no problem

How to Solarize Soil Normally and With Modifications

Modification:
Many people always recommend using clear plastic because the idea is that clear plastic produces higher temperatures faster because the sunlight passes through the clear plastic to heat the soil. While this is true, if you are in a cooler climate or a cooler time of the year, I have found that black plastic works just as well because it absorbs the heat making it quite hot. The soil surface near this hot plastic gets quite warm, which as stated above, may not be hot enough to kill diseases or some weed seeds, but it will clear the area nicely of weeds and some seeds.

Not as thorough.