I built several beds here. . . first need to know if your grass is Bermuda grass, or other. If it isn't, you needn't even worry about weeds and grass already there if you build your beds "lasagna" style. Sheets of wet cardboard on bottom, followed by layers of mulch (straw, alfalfa hay, mulched leaves), compost from Lowe's or other store if you don't have your own. There should be many good articles or Utube videos on lasagna gardening. It would be a grand healthy way to start. But if you do indeed have Bermuda grass, then what Amy said about solarizing. :) Good luck. (We don't do chemicals on the beds or lawn, either.)

Now this is the kind of advice I was hoping for. Looking into it now.

I don't think the grass is bermuda...it's some kind of garbage grass.

Thanks for the advice.

Chris. . . this is not a labor-free activity. LOL When we started on the first big bed four years ago in April, I had a hand injury and so my husband helped me. It was hard to find "stuff" and gather it to use. We had lots of newspapers and cardboard, at least. (Important that the bottom layer is thoroughly water-soaked, to allow moisture underneath.) And we have a large enough property that there were tons of decaying oak leaves on the back "foresty" part of the property. We didn't have any green stuff, though, like grass clippings, and no compost, so bought store compost the first year. I just used what we had and didn't worry about getting a perfect balance of green/brown.

GDW (hubby) was saying, "I thought you said this would be easy." I said, "Well, I know this is kinda hard work, but it'll get easier year by year. " LOL. And over the past four years, we have a decent compost pile now out by the veggies, and I get lots of grass clippings, and lots and lots of double-mulched oak leaves every year, and last year bought half a dozen bales of alfalfa hay (NOT straw--I hated the straw, personally, as there were lots of oat seeds in it and I had oats growing everywhere.), because it is seed-free. Last year's fall bed preparation was easy. I just blew all the leaves into big piles and mowed them twice and threw into the nearest bed. I do the same when mowing the lawn. Fill the catcher bag and toss on whichever bed I'm nearest to.

I am a beginner, not an expert. I get my advice from the real experts on this forum.

But with their guidance, have 9 large flower beds, and our raised fenced-in beds for veggies.

If any of you experts have more guidance for Chris, please jump in. And good luck, Chris.

Thanks, and it's already been a lot of work just digging out the horrible monkey grass, up-rooting the few landscape rocks we had, and digging out the unwanted weedy-tree things.

One problem is we have a pecan tree that drops pecans everywhere and little sprouts start. So a lot of those had to be dug up.

Today, I spent all day so far driving around asking for large pieces of cardboard from big box stores. Lowes came through for me with a handful of a flat refridgerator boxes. I have grass clippings and quite a bit of manure/compose mixture, and have been "yard composing" for this whole year.

I'm ready to get started...we'll see how it goes! I'll probably add some photos as I go.

You can plan to add plants next year (or possibly bulbs this fall maybe)

And don't ever use landscape fabric. Worst stuff ever.