I think it's really better to remove the sod first. Most FL grasses are pretty invasive w/ tough runners.

If I sprayed all the grass with vinegar, would it ruin the soil for when I put the plants in the ground?

In my opinion AVOID landscape fabric..do a search on gardenweb and read all the negative comments..that's a beautiful look you're trying to achieve..you need plants..not fabric and mulch..

Vinegar is not an effective method for killing grass. It only dessicates and kills off the the blades/foliage - the roots remain intact and healthy.

You need to dig out and remove all the sod from the area you want to plant. And probably install a rigid bed edging to prevent the grass roots/rhizomes from invading the new plantings. Landscape fabric is not at all useful in smothering unwanted plants (grass) nor is it particularly helpful in deterring new weed growth. Don't waste your money.

I'll leave it to someone local to suggest what to plant and were to find them.

Kill the grass with RoundUP first. Give it 48 hours and then dig holes for your new plants. Cover the remaining areas with at least 3" of mulch and not the damn red stuff! Pine bark is great for adding acid to our very alkaline soil. You don't have to dig up all the sod.

Depending on the type of grass/lawn you have, removal may be essential!! And smaller edibles - veggies - often need some specialized growing conditions and pretty much a lack of any weed or grass competition to thrive and produce well. I would never consider just digging a hole in the middle of a lawn and plunking a tomato in it.......that's a recipe for failure!

just to be clear..in your inspiration photo there's a border surrounding the patio..you would need to clear the bed before planting..not just dig a hole for the plant..I worked my way down my path in sections..

I usually dig the sod up and turn it over, cover with cardboard and cover that with mulch. If I plant right away I don't put that grass back upside down, but fill with topsoil and compost ( myshroom/BlackKow)

If you have Bermuda grass then you definitely want to look at removal (not smothering). And with some sort of rigid edging to prevent the inevitable migration of the Bermuda into planting areas.

Keep in mind, the edging won't entirely prevent the bermuda, just slow it- you'll still be doing a fair amount of weeding.

Update: We have most of the grass dug up! We did about 3' wide... Would this border material work? Would I also need to put the edging material against my patio? Or just along edges that are against grass?

https://www.amazon.com/Dimex-EasyFlex-Landscape-100-Feet-3000-100C/dp/B00PG44O52/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1487091209&sr=8-3&keywords=garden+edging

And in regards to wanting edibles, I was more thinking herbs... My kids eat basil, etc off the plant... And we have separate raised beds for all of our veggies.

OR... this may be a dumb question... could I just use lumber as a boarder/edging?

http://www.homedepot.com/p/3-5-in-x-3-5-in-x-8-ft-Pressure-Treated-Landscape-Timber-129430/100037766

Again, what kind of grass do you have? If you have bermuda, you'll want something that is going to go down into the ground at least a few inches to keep it from getting into your beds. That plastic edging won't do it. Landscape timbers are fine, except that if they aren't drilled and staked down or nailed together, they tend to float off in heavy rains. Plus, they have to be cut to fit, so there is waste involved. Just go to Home Depot or Lowe's and look at what they have. It also depends a lot on what kind of look you want. There are lovely concrete edgings and stones that can be had pretty cheaply. They last much longer, don't float away, and don't usually have to be replaced unless someone hits one with a lawnmower and breaks it (like my idiot yard crew did to mine). They are easy to weed-whack against too.

I am not positive, but I believe it is St. Augustine grass.

My front yard has the same grass, and some landscaped areas along the front of my house... and now that I think about it, none of them have edging material. I assume they are just edged with the edger. But again... I have been making an effort with my yard/gardening for at least 10 years, and I still consider myself a beginner ;-)

If your planting edibles, my kids love to eat the sweet cherry and pear tomatoes right off the bush. I like to plant them close to the back door and they eat them coming and going!

Pink Gator: In Florida most grasses propagate by spreading or creeping rhizomes, stolons or both. Some grasses like Bermuda and Bahia use seed but the vast majority of lawn grasses like Zoysia and St. Augustine varieties are stolon grasses. These stolons are found 4-6 inches down in the soil and need to be removed or they will sprout and spread throughout your gardens. As for landscape cloth, most people think of it as a barrier to keep things from growing through from underneath, however it's real purpose is to keep weed seeds from rooting into the soil from above.

I've been landscaping for more than 25 years in Florida, take it from me, if you don't want to spend all of your free time weeding your beds, put down the landscape cloth. Your back with thank you.

"As for landscape cloth, most people think of it as a barrier to keep things from growing through from underneath, however it's real purpose is to keep weed seeds from rooting into the soil from above."

However, most applications of landscape fabric are covered with a mulch. And weed seeds will germinate quite readily in most mulches, which will tend to break down in time to a soil-like texture anyway unless routinely refreshed. And even rock mulches will collect plant debris (unless blown off weekly) that will also provide a base for weed seeds to germinate. So the landscape fabric is really only a very temporary deterrent to weeds appearing. A decently thick layer of mulch will accomplish the same thing and without the potential for weed roots to grow through and get tangled in the cloth/fabric, so far easier to remove

If you search these forums and elsewhere online, you will find countless negative reports about the use of landscape fabric. It all boils down to the essential concept that it is more trouble than it is worth and does not effectively stop weed development. Most professionals that do routine landscape maintenance tend to avoid it like the plague. I too have been landscaping professionally for several decades and I only use it as a underlayment for a hardscape installation........and not always then.

jpmc..don't agree with your explanation that landscape fabric prevents seeds from rooting from above..I see what gardengal described..the fabric collects enough "soil" on top to grow plenty of weeds..I removed landscape fabric that the previous homeowner installed..weeds growing through it with dry rock hard soil underneath..I HATE landscape fabric..not environmentally friendly..inhibits water penetration and earthworm activity..my soil is still recovering from the "work" of the previous homeowner..landscape fabric with mountains of mulch..