Weed control prior to preparing the site is important for gardeners.

Establish a uniform grade before constructing the garden beds.

Prior to bed construction, eliminate all weeds and turf from the site. In the southern United States, bermudagrass is the turf of choice for sunny areas. Unfortunately, bermudagrass, affectionately referred to in some circles as "devil's grass," is a gardener's worst nightmare.

A glyphosate-based herbicide will control hard-to-kill perennial weeds such as bermudagrass and johnsongrass, in addition to a wide spectrum of other common weeds. The use of glyphosate has one drawback – it can only be used during the growing season. Care should be taken to not apply this herbicide on desired vegetation. Refer to the product label for application directions.

If the growing season is missed, consider controlling bermudagrass by undercutting the sod and removing it from the garden site. Don't expect much control by merely peeling off the top layer of soil, though. The deeper the cut, the greater amount of control achieved. Most of the soil can be recovered by shaking the sod to remove the rhizomes and stolons (runners). Depending on the size of the garden, however, this can be an overwhelming task. An easier way is to replace the removed sod with a good quality top soil. Purchase enough extra for the raised beds and have it all delivered at one time.

Once weeds are controlled, an appropriate grade for the location should be established. Begin by loosening the soil by tilling or discing. This will permit movement of soil from high areas to low ones in the leveling or grading process. On occasion, it will be necessary to add fill to establish a level bed site or a uniform grade. This also is a good time to remove unwanted matter from the site such as stones, weeds, glass, metal or any other material that would prove dangerous or detrimental.