A no-dig garden...
A no dig garden may sound impossible, but actually is easy to create. By laying newspapers in the bottom of the bed and topping them with 8-12" of enriched soil, the gardener gets crumbly, healthy soil without hours of digging. This no dig method can turn any uncultivated area into an oasis, such as an island in the middle of the lawn, a border along the driveway, or a kitchen garden outside the back door.
Decide on the size and location of the no-dig garden, then outline the bed with a garden hose. Mow the grass and weeds as close to the soil level as possible.
Cover the site with a thick layer --- about 40 pages --- of newspaper. Wet it, then cover with about 6" of shredded bark, shredded leaves, or wood chips. Saturate the mulch with water. Deprived of light and air, the grass and weeds under the newspaper and mulch will die. The decayed roots will add nutrients to the soil and attract earthworms, which will help break down the earth. During the warmer months, decay and soil breakdown is accelerated, and in four to 6 weeks you will be ready to plant. When you prepare a no-dig bed early in spring or or in autumn, the colder earth conditions slow down Microorganism and earthworm activity, causing the weed and soil breakdown to be much slower. Once warmer weather arrives, however, the breakdown process takes place rapidly.
To plant, pull back the mulch, and use a trowel or shovel (depending on the size of the plant) to push through the rotting newspapers into the soil. Form a hole, loosen the soil, and set the plant. Tamp down the soil and water thoroughly. Draw the mulch around the plantings or add additional mulch.
This no-dig method works well for herbs, annuals, perrennials, shrubs and vegetables.
You can by-pass the 4-6 week wait and plant the same day if you are planting herbs, vegetables or flowers by adding compost-enriched soil (note the change in dirt type). Once the plants are in place, add several inches of mulch to bed (another change).
* From: BHG: Gardening Weekends/Strategies for the busy gardener