You are on the right track, but the grass clippings are a few steps removed from being dirt.

Is this for a raised bed? Obviously you have some dirt right now in your bed - just not enough of it. If you have poor soil without much crumbly organic material, then you want to amend the poor dirt with compost. Grass can be turned in to compost, but it takes months to complete that process. So make that a separate task which we'll get to as a final step.

So at minimum what you want to get your hands on is some compost - maybe find some in bulk from a nursery or on Craig's list. Or you can go to a big box store and get bags of composted leaf mold or manure. (Speaking of manure, any horse stables near you? The often have piles of straw and manure free for the taking if you will go an pick it up.)

Break up your existing dirt and turn the compost into it. Now evaluate - you have added air and compost into your beds - do you still need more dirt? If your goal is to grow flowers, you probably have enough turned soil mixture go ahead. However, if you need more then find top soil and more compost and add that mixture until you have the level you need.

Once you have your dirt, you now have to protect the bare soil, or will have weeds coming up within a week. Mulch the top of the bed with straw or wood chips and mix in those grass clippings. The can compost away in the mulch on top of the bed. By spring they will be a nice layer of compost on the top of the bed.

When you are ready to plant push away some of the mulch and put in your seeds or plants.

Thanks Richard. Yeah I need dirt. It's crazy I moved to the country, and can't find anyplace that sells dirt. lol I've check online and craigslist both. People around "these here parts" don't use CL. Not being mean, I love it here. I sure some farmer would probably give me some, If I knew who to ask.

Find a neighborhood Facebook group of some kind?

If you are in a rural area then talking to your neighbors is a great idea. And if you are new, there is no better way to make acquaintances than to ask for their advice. They will be dealing with wood chippers, manure, and compost every day and likely know where you can get what you need for free for you tiny little garden beds.

Why do you think you need "dirt"? Are you trying to raise the level of an area?

Where in the world are you that no one sells soil?

Don't use the grass in garden beds if you treat your lawn with a "weed control" fertilizer.

Thank you, I had not thought of that.

The vast majority of lawn weed control chemicals break down in the composting process. If you're preparing that bed for next year I wouldn't worry about it.

One way you can use the grass is to find some browns to mix with it. Straw, leaves, sawdust, wood chips. Blend it up into a balanced compostable mix and put layers in between layers of soil. That's called a lasagna bed. By next spring you can dig/till it together and have great soil.

The question of why you need soil is a valid one. Amending what you have is a good way to go, if there is not some compelling reason to raise the grade. Raised beds are not magic just because they are raised. You can make that compost pile on top of the ground now and dig it in later just the same.

kimmq First I'm not quite sure how to take your post. Are you asking me if I'm stupid, or for more information? I'll go for the latter since we just meet. I built a dry stack or mortarless rock wall creating a flower bed in front of my house. I built the rock wall for the look of the rock, not to simply make a raised bed. The bed is 6' x 24' at the lower end is least 2' below wall height. I suppose I could use taller plants, however that is not the look I'm going for.

About finding dirt. This area is very rural, the closest town is 30 miles away, and even then I couldn't find any "dirt selling" companies in that town; at least not online. like I said, I'm sure some farmer would sell me some, if not give it to me. I'll probably ask around at the farmers market, and farmers co-op, as well as facebook.

BTW the wall is NOT finished yet.

music, where are you... approximately?

Castlewood in Southwest Virginia I have not contacted Lebanon Block and supply. They may. My neighbor just got 6 dump truck loads; the farmer down the road gave it to him. They may have some left. I hesitated on asking as we have just moved here and, I don't want to seem rude or forward. People here are a little more reserved.

Yeah, from your descriptions above it sounded similar to areas near here. I'm in E. Tn. There are towns up in those hills where there's absolutely nothing lol. People in such areas can be a little wary of people they don't know, but usually, once they know you, they'll give you the shirt off their back. As others mentioned above, as you meet people, just bring it up in conversation... "Hey, do you know anyone who has a little dirt they need hauled off?"

And yeah, there's no Craigslist activity round these parts lol.

rgreen48, I grew up here, however I moved away at age 18. I am back at age 50. You are correct, things move a little slower here, people are more cautious especially towards strangers; Ha or as mom called them aliens. lol. Anyhow it nice to talk to someone who understands the culture better. It's hard to explain online.

theparsley, I understand what you are saying. I try not to take things personally, especially on forums. I'm sure there are a lot of posters asking the same questions over and over as well. I probably could have found the info I needed on here, but I was trying to finish up a few things before the rain set in. I almost filled the bed with the grass, but thought I'd ask first. I'm glad I did. Thanks to everyone for their helpful info/input.