A. An easy method of preparing a bed over existing grass is:
• Determine the size and shape you want. A garden hose is helpful in forming curved- bed shapes.
• Mark the outline with a little garden lime or spray paint.
• Mow or weed-eat the grass down to as low as possible.
• Now cover the area with newspaper--about seven or eight sheets thick, or brown grocery sacks
two sheets thick. Cut out or omit colored ink print, as it may be toxic to plants.
• Cover the newsprint with about three inches of mulch of your choice.
• Wait--oh about three months. The grass will die and decompose, actually aerating the soil.
• You are ready to plant! You may want to add some soil or compost depending on requirements
of what you plant.
I just add a little time-release fertilizer and plant things that are well adapted to our area. Yes I have had success with this method; however, my husband occasionally complains that his lawn is disappearing a little at a time. But if you choose carefully what you plant, you actually reduce maintenance time; it takes less time to mow, you use fewer chemicals for the lawn, and you have a more beautiful, interesting yard to view everyday! Now you won't hear too many complaints on mowing day. There is even something more motivating about maintaining an interesting yard as compared to the dull routine of mow, edge, fertilize in a yard with grass and very little else.
By the way, if you just can't stand to wait three months for the grass to die, you can plant a few things by just removing the paper cover in small sections and digging the grass where you want a plant to go. (This is especially good for a few anchor shrubs.) After planting, replace the paper to within a few inches of the trunk or stem. Cover the paper with mulch. Voila!