Question
Hi Laura.thx for your time....going to make a bed ..1oft by 50ftwhats the best way to go about  it so i have a few weeds as possible?...black plastic? weed cloth?...have nothing there now but grass..would love some ideas thx Wil

Answer
Wil,
Here is the secret to creating beautiful
flower beds with little or no maintenance
so that you can enjoy it more.It may
seem like too much work,but it pays off in
the end result.Promise!
Well the first thing to do would be to
prepare the bed by either killing the grass
and/or breaking up the soil with a
tiller.Actually killing the grass is the
easiest way and you won't have to worry
about weeds taking over if it is just grass
in that spot and no bad invasive weeds
like bermuda grass. I start by spraying
the entire area including where the border
bricks or edging will be placed with a
strong weed killer. They have some
pretty good ones now called "season
long" grass killer. Then I cover the entire
area with black(not clear)plastic like the
sort that is used for paint drop clothes
and is usually in the paint section.It
comes in rolls and is super cheap.
Use metal garden staples to hold down
the plastic.The garden staples will be in
the garden center area by the landscape
fabric,which I don't recommend using
since weed seeds root on top of it. Then
wait several days before planting.
Before planting:
Take up the plastic,add a lot of soil and
peat moss and replace the plastic on top
of that using again the metal garden
staples.As you add soil make a bit of a
slope all the way around the inside of the
bed.This way you will build up the bed
better so it will drain properly.
After replacing the plastic again,
dig your holes by cutting circles in the
plastic where the plants will be. Make
sure the circles are at least 5" larger than
the plant's width.
Use taller plants in the middle of the bed
and as you go out towards the edge of the
bed, plant shorter ones.
You will need to plant compatible plants in
the same bed.If you have full sun on the
bed(more than 8 hours of full direct
sunlight) use those plants that you know
in your area that grow in full sun and
if it is dappled or full shade plant
accordingly.
After planting,water the plants deeply
and mulch really heavy to hold down the
plastic. That's it! Just make sure you
water for the next few weeks if you don't
get any rainfall.
Also,there are lots of Spring blooming bulbs out in garden centers now so that would be a very cost efficient,low maintenance way to have a beautiful bulb bed by spring.Mix in some of your favorite perennials or even dwarf evergreens for a different contrast and winter appeal.