Gardening

This is what my wife and I do. We get a bunch of free mulch then put down usually a double layer of cardboard and mulch over it. The cardboard and mulch break down over time creating new, rich soil. You'll likely have to cardboard and mulch every year but you can also move your beds around and replenish the soil. And I wouldn't worry about hoing up the grass. The only trouble I foresee is along the edges.