Maybe I can help you. First, you do not need to remove the dead grass regardless of the design option you choose. Next is you can either have a flat or raised garden. The choice is yours, and having a raised garden only requires adding topsoil to the area where the garden will be located. Look in your local yellow pages under Topsoil or Landscape Contractors. Tell them the dimensions of the area and they can tell you how much you will need.

With either a flat or raised garden, the easiest way to amend the soil is using the lasagna method. The link below will give you some information, plus do a search on the forums using the word 'lasagna' and you will find all the answers you need .... and keep you reading for hours!! :-)

If you begin amending the soil now, it would be in good shape to plant in the spring.

Here is a link that might be useful: Creating A Bed Without Tilling

Great! Thanks so much! This is definitely a big help. I see I have my work cut out for me, but I expected that. This is great. :-D

Marcia

Let me add one comment about the addition of top soil. It's important that you do not simply layer a non native soil on top of what you already have, but incorporate it in by tilling. Artificial soil layers can cause problems with drainage. You want that soil to be as homogenized as possible.