what about the sod below...?

I am about to create a hugelkultur bed next to a lake.
The spot where I am going to do this has a layer of sod.
Do I need cut and remove the sod or is it fine to build the bed on top of the sod?
I want to do what is best to keep the grass from working it's way on the hugelkultur mound.
Thanks
Jim

Hi Jim
In my experience if you place a foot or more of soil/mulch on top of a grass it will be smothered out pretty effectively.
Exceptions to this would be aggressive perennial grasses but most typical turf grass is pretty easy to kill. I used to layout an edge with a garden hose, then cut the edge with a half moon, remove the first foot off the edge of the bed and place it inside the bed.
A foot or more of soil and you have an instant planting area less the grass. By retaining the grass your keeping all that soil biology in place.

I think when I do a true hugel (coming soon with all the partially rotten wood I have) I will trench it to acquire the soil needed to cover.
In your case, when you pile a bunch of wood up, then cover with 6" or so of soil, any pre-existing grass/weeds that were once there are history!