How to make a clean slate of an old flower bed?

I would like to revitalize an old flower bed in my backyard. It's full of grass and weeds. What's the best way to make the soil workable again?

How to make a clean slate of an old flower bed?
If the area is not too big, a good plan would be to put a black plastic tarp over the surface area and let it sit there for 2 weeks. This will kill all grass/weeds and their seeds by halting photosynthesis and cooking them (now that summer is just around the corner, it's a good time with the weather warming up a bit). This is sometimes better then adding herbicides, etc., as it will keep the growing area free from contaminants which can kill your future plants.





Then rototill (you can rent one from a hardware store) the garden area and amend the soil with new soil/compost compatible with what types of plants you want to add. Now would be a good time to send in a soil sample for pH testing, etc., as well.





Have fun!
Reply:If you don't have a rototiller then just use a digging shovel and turn the dirt. This will loosen the soil so all you have to do it pick out the weeds. Then you add fresh top soil, grade it out with a grading rake and you are ready for planting! Good luck!
Reply:Get one of those big gas powered diggers..or if you need something small get that claw thing that grinds all the dirt up when you shove it in the ground and twist it.





or if you really wanna do something that would really work, try a controled fire!
Reply:Scoop out most of the old soil and put in new dirt from the garden store. Mix the old with the new. Plants your favorite flowers. Stand back and admire your work.