By now you've found the perfect location, whether it's full shade, partial shade or full sun and you've selected the most suitable plants.  Now it's time to start working on the garden project.  Thinking of digging up the grass?  You can either plant on top of the grass using layers of cardboard and paper or spend time digging.  If you decide to dig out the grass, start by flagging the perimeter of the flower bed.  Dig about 5-6 to inches around that perimeter.  From there you should be able to easily lift out the layer fo grass in that section.  Remove all the leaves, sticks and misc debris.  Be certain that you've removed all grass before you begin the soil loosening process to get ready for planting to begin.

The second approach is to smooth out the grass with sheets of newspapers and cardboard.  Simply lay out the cardboard on the desired location.  Dump water on it and spread out a couple dozen sheets of papers.  Add your compost and let it sit.  If you choose the cardboard approach you might end up waiting several weeks for the layers of compost to decompose before you can start your planting.

Planning how you're going to plant your flowers is as important as actually doing the planting.  Always plant in the early morning or at dusk to avoid direct sunlight.  The last thing you want to do is come out with a brutal sun burn!  Taller plants are best suited for the middle of the bed while the smaller plants usually thrive better on the side.  Most gardeners cluster their plants and flowers based on their color.  After planting the flowers, ensure you mulch and water very generously.  Mulching is a great way to prevent evaporation while keeping weeds controlled.