Before we moved to another county, my wife and I never quite appreciated that we had about 2 feet of perfect garden soil that had been deposited over many years, toward the low part of a gently sloping lot. Whatever we planted grew to lush perfection; tomatoes, beans, cucumber, asparagus and more. Then we moved to a rustic surrounding with lots of room and realised that when it came to gardening it was the badlands. Tough wild grass and at the most 2 inches of lousy dirt and then the top of a limestone formation laid down by an ancient sea.

A 3 foot by 60 foot bed was planned against an existing fence. After many hours of backbreaking work with post hole digger and crowbar loosened the layer of fractured stone. Fill in with good garden soil to about 10 inches came next. The removed stones were laid along the border. This would not keep the grass pest from growing back invading the planting area. There were of course the plasti c border strips. These could not be anchored securely with against the bumps from the mower. Flat 2 inch concrete stones were also considered at a cost that was bearable Then I remembered that the last roofing contractor left about 50 surplus roofing tile stored away in a shed. This no-cost solution gave a low profile barrier. The width had room for the mower wheels and a layer of the stones. I hope that there is no chemical leaching from the asphalt tiles. They will not let the grass grow through for sure.