We moved house last September. Garden to front and rear had just been left to LONG grass and never shown TLC. Got stuck in and got rid of the back lawn entirely last autumn. Dug over and overturned grass to rot down under it's own weight over the winter - worked well, just a few perennial weeds and bits of grass to pull out as this year has progressed.
Put in two herb beds about 3mx3m with diagonal path along middle and two veg beds 2mx1m. The soil was eager to go and this year has been bumper crops. Runner and broad beans, peas, sweet peas, beetroot, lettuce, rocket, onions, broccoli, tomatoes, sweetcorn, chard, parsnips, celery and every herb I could get my hands on and raise from seed (I love herbs). Butterhead lettuce, late rocket, kale,and chicory have been put in during the past month to establish over autumn. Any bare patches from finished crops will be fertilised and left for next spring.