10-20 layers of paper (or a single layer of corrugated cardboard) is all you
need. To keep it down I usually spread compost or mulch, but you could use
straw, pine needles, whatever is handy.

Dave

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
...
20 years ago, I worked for two weeks removing grass from a new garden
using
a fork and a number of custom-made implements of sifting and destruction.
I
just had a 30x30 area tilled, and this time, I'm ready to try another way
of
killing the grass that's mixed into the soil. The guy who tilled it did a
great job. He ran the tiller in various orientations until the sod was
very
nicely chopped up. But, you KNOW some of it'll be back in April when I
want
to plant lettuce.

So: I've seen a number of people mention spreading newspaper. Sheets of
plastic are easy, but the newspaper idea is fascinating. But, how's it
kept
in place? Just toss soil on top of it? We're talking a lot of newspaper
here - I'd need lots of bricks. :-) I realize this is an unbelievably
simplistic question, but I have limited time this weekend. No time for
experiments, and I'd rather not use plastic if I don't have to.