O.K. Anna and others who want to know how we got rid of the grass.
We had a mixture of Bermuda and St. Augustine. We measured the yard and drew the bed outlines on paper according to our situation and traffic patterns.
Then we asked out friends and neighbors to save newspapers for us, which they did, and we ended up with more than enough, bless them.
For the mulch we used shredded tree mulch provided by the local landscape companies for free. We got two truckloads which sat on our driveway and that wasn't fun, but oh well, you do what you have to
We marked the beds with black flat plastic edging and put an edging around the curb to hold the mulch, and then started laying newspaper 8 to 10 layers thick, wetting it first and being very careful to overlap every piece to make sure no light gets through. Also making sure the edge by the curb was very well tucked in.
Starting mulching along the curb.
Farther along the corner.
After all was mulched including the paths we waited and when the time was right we started planting by making a hole through the mulch and paper. We didn't till or pull the grass, just mowed it close before starting.
I guess it took me a few months to get it done little by little. Then we laid the rocks around the edges of the beds.
The edge bed with the rocks and plants coming in.
View of another bed.
Plants more advanced
We have not had trouble with the grass coming back or peeking through. We started in the fall of 2009 so it has been a journey but a very good and satisfying one.
That is my story and I'm sticking to it, my friends.
Josephine.
Starting mulching along the curb.
Farther along the corner.
The edge bed with the rocks and plants coming in.
View of another bed.
Plants more advanced