I've just made a new small border! I took the layer of grass off, and dug it over and dug in a little compost. Planted up and it's been fine! But I have put down weed surpressant membrane and gravel on top too! But just take the the grass and top 2-3 inches of roots out and add some compost and 'dig in' I'd say. I may be wrong though!

Thankyou Dan. I've turned it over at the moment so I can let it dry out to enable me to shake the excess soil off else it's going to cost me he'll of a lot in compost/top soil. I'll do as you suggested and use a barrier membrane as I'm raising them by 4 inches. Half way there atm. I'd forgotten how Labour intensive starting a new garden can be.

I've taken over my parents garden whilst on my gap year and I'm renewing everything and putting new in! :) starting new bits from scratch and renovating other parts :)

This is the first garden I've had for some years. Have only really had succulents,orchids and a few others that I don't remember the name to. All for indoor . I'm going to cover with cardboard to try kill off anything beneath the border. At the moment it is somewhat trial and error.

I'm too trial and error at the moment! Trying to have everything contrasting colours and just sticking in random bits and bobs just to see what looks good and of course the things I like too! If you like aliums, take a look at agapanthus!

I'm digging up my back lawn, no more grass! But I dig out sods of grass, cut/scrape off as much soil as poss, dig the hole slightly deeper and put back the sod upside down, stamp it in and replace soil. Takes longer but I won't loose a cple of inches in depth, and by now I seem to have perfected the technique. I'm lucky that I have access to unlimited compost but it's about 300 m down the lane and uphill on the way back with a full load! But cardboard will also do the trick esp if you have some straw or manure to put on top. Def building my muscles, so much I have stopped going to the gym for the moment! I had a lot of advice from GOY members re technique which has helped a lot. Good luck.

A caution about "barrier membrane." It hampers root growth of your bedding plants. It also stops worms from getting in. Not sure if that's an issue.

I take off the turf and bury it upside down in the place it came from. The deeper you make the hole the less likely it is that any grass will regrow. It rots down and improves the soil. I have never added any compost or topsoil other than what I have already - just improve it gradually as I go along, the neediest places getting priority.

Labaour intensive but free!

If you go down this route try to make sure there is no couch grass in the turf - easily recognised by the long thick white roots.

I've followed your advice in my garden Stera, it seems to be working very well, I hate wasting good soil. After the hard graft in my French garden I appreciate every spadeful of soil and begrudge throwing any out even if it goes into the green recycling bin.

Thank you all.

Just had a thought - I would strongly advise you not to use membrane. Weeds can still seed into the gravel and planting any new plants is difficult as you have to move the gravel and cut a hole in the membrane. Moving an established plant becomes a nightmare. A few minutes regular hoeing is easier in the long run and looks more natural. (I'm biased, being a gravel hater...)