ignoring the depth buffer?

Hi all!!! i have what i assume is a fairly easy question for you guys, but for me (i am a bit of a beginner), it is not! ok: in my 3d app i first draw a skybox. then after this i draw lots of objects (trees, buildings etc...). however, some of these objects are drawn behind the skybox (because their coordinates are behind it), but i do not want them to! i want these objects to be drawn on top of the skybox (if you think of the screen as a 2D flat surface). is there an easy way of thus clearing the back buffer before these other objects are drawn? would that help? or is there an easier way? i am using directx v. 8! thanx for your time, and hope someone can help! regards Krokus