Ripping up the backyard lawn and have a few questions

[Tracydr]

Originally Posted by tlintx

I actually kind of assume bermuda and crab grass are just one of the hazards of growing here. I mean, you can't keep the seeds out, so sooner or later you'll have to re-deal with it.

I've found that a layer of newspaper, thick, will smother all the grasses I've got. However, if you miss even an inch (or leave a gap between paper and, say, the border) the grass will crawl up over the paper and into whatever soft bed you've prepared.

I have made several raised beds using the newspaper/raised bed solution and it seems to be working. Do you know what's under the first few inches of dirt? If it's a relatively old residential area you could be looking at trash or pipes or wires. I think Worth had it right -- raised beds are awesome.

Good point. Laying the newspaper down before setting a raised bed frame on is important, however the newspaper doesn't last long in warmer climates. The psst two years, I've been fighting grass despite sheet mulching, I've found that adding water and manure to dirt in the south means Bermuda, even if it wasn't there to start.
Some parts of coastal CA, though are probably too cool for major Bermuda issues.