Smothering grass

[2Bhumble]

Has anyone smothered grass for planting beds? I'm considering using newspapers covered with bark mulch and not planting for a year. I will edge the bed with bricks then cover (smother) the lawn within. I also have a bunch of left over river rock gravel which I thought I'd move to another part or the yard to lessen the lawn area. I assume with gravel it's better to use an herbicide and landscape fabric as opposed to the smother method. Any thoughts?

Thanks!

 

[chilehed]

I imagine that this could work if you layered the paper on thick enough, but I just use Roundup.