I ran across this tip today.  I haven’t gotten to the nitty gritty of prepping for a garden yet.  There is a house in the way at the moment.  I will probably have small square foot garden spots all over the place until something more permanent can be done. 

Prepare a garden. In the fall, mow a patch of lawn to make room for a dedicated bed. Cover it with four layers of newspaper, then a four-inch layer of shredded leaves or bark mulch. Hose it down. Come spring, the compost blanket will have smothered the grass roots, and the bed will be primed for planting.