Question: How should I prepare the soil for my new planting beds? How can I get rid of the existing turf without harming the soil?

Answer: Once you have the beds marked off, you can kill existing turf with a glyphosate-only spray. There are several on the market, and all can be used without fear of contaminating the soil (so long as it contains only the glyphosate). They are not active in the soil, but you’ll want to give them 10-15 days to complete their work before rototilling the soil. At that point, you can begin incorporating the organic matter and expanded shale to improve your soil.