Question: I am planning to remove an area of grass approximately 4' X 30' to lay a pathway of mulch. What is the best way to remove the grass to ensure that it doesn't re-sprout under the mulch?

Answer: Digging up the grass completely will minimize resprouting. (Be sure to put the grass on your compost pile--what a bonus!) Lay landscape fabric over the soil to smother dormant seeds and suppress any errant weed growth.Furthermore, you may want to consider using gravel rather than mulch for your paths. In a few years organic mulch will decompose to a fine compost, and then you will be fighting weed seeds continuously. Although some seeds may sprout in the gravel, without the soil, most will quickly die.