Is this a conventional in-ground garden?

EG

It is a raised bed square foot garden

CarrieAnn - The only thing you wanna do in the fall is send a soil sample to your local extension office. Where I live, we have to add lime every fall, because of the frequency of rainfall. However, your location probably doesn't require that, unless the soil test indicates a low ph. No cover crop needed - especially in such a small area. Compost should be added in the spring, at planting time.....

EG

You could also add a nice thick layer of fall leaves over the garden - shredded is best. Water them as you place them so that they stay in place. I would then till the leaves in once the spring comes. Leaves improve soil tilth, although depending on the leaves, it might drop the pH.

Another option: Put shredded leaves over your garden space. (Be sure to wet them down as you lay them to hold them in place.) Then, when the spring comes, rake the leaves back off the soil (and reserve) let the soil warm up from the spring sun, and plant. Replace the leaves as a mulch over your garden. Then you can either till the leaves into the soil come the following fall or put the year old leaves into the compost with the plant remains from that year, and put new leaves down in your garden to repeat the cycle.

Personally, I would incorporate the leaves into the soil in the fall - worms LOVE leaves! (And I love worms, so I do whatever I can to make them happy.)

Because my garden was filled "lasagna-style", I need to top off the beds in the fall to replace what was broken down over the summer. I empty the compost bin (finished or not), toss in some leaves & coffee grounds etc and top off with straw to put them to "bed" for the season. This year, I'll be sure to water the beds well- last winter was dry and things didn't break down as well as they did the year before.

eaglesgarden - worms also seem to be very happy with split-open pumpkins in the fall. Just make sure you remove the seeds first - they'll sprout & come bursting out in massive clumps in the spring.

All summer long I racked my grass clipping and put it in plastic bags and bagged the tree leaves I gathered from the yard. I have about 50 of these bags. I am planning to spread the grass clipping, the leaves and the old plants in the entire garden (60X60)then use the Tiller to mix it. Since I don't have a compost hole I hope this will work as a compost. If I am doing any thing wrong please speak out I will listen.

Fill your Raised Beds with as many leafs as you can and then put on a cover crop of rye grass. Feed your soil!

Here is a link that might be useful: Check out the Barry Gardens

I vote nothing. Just add some compost when you replant. That's the SFG way and has worked for me.