Digging borders in a new-build garden

[Big Chris]

Recently bought a new-build house and the back garden is just turf to the edges of the fence/wall. I'd like to dig a border around the edges to plant some stuff but I have no idea how best to go about this.

I've got an edging spade but how do I get the turf up? Is it just a case of getting a regular spade underneath and lifting or is that too clumsy?

What do I do once the turf is up, put bark/wood chips/something else down or just leave bare soil?

This is my first garden having always lived in flats so I'm a total novice!

 

[Big Chris]

Thanks for the input so far, it's already more complicated than I thought!

Is there a minimum width to bear in mind when digging borders? The garden isn't massive, and I'm not sure what's going to be planted yet and therefore how much space might be required. I've been to a couple of garden centres but it's completely alien to me at the moment and there's so many options.