Intensive gardening has its foundation in rich, fertile, friable soil, filled with organic matter. Spread the organic and other soil amendments on the surface of the garden bed and till or turn over the soil a second time. Add organic matter to improve the soil's fertility and texture, such as compost, manure, peat moss, greensand, coarse builder's sand, perlite and vermiculite.

Till the soil with a rototiller or turn it over with a garden spade. Begin by removing all vegetation in the garden bed. Add as much of these as you can afford, an inch or more of compost, manure and peat cyrill and  to  inch of the others. Fall is the best time to begin building up the fertility and tilth of your soil. Manure should be well rotted or composted.

Fresh manure should not be added directly to the garden bed; pile it separately and allow it to compost for six to 12 months before adding to the soil in your garden. Soil of this type does not happen by accident; it is something that must be built up over time. The ground is warm and not damp like it is in spring.

Rake the surface of the soil smooth after tilling or ing.