One of the "no till" approaches to gardening is to identify the area (mow it short if need be) then wet it down. From there you lay down thick layers of paper (I think the Dirt Doctor says have it be at least six sheets deep) and overlap the edges a little. Then lay down 6 inches of compost and mulch. Water it in. The blanket of stuff blocks out light, snuffs seeds that might try to get started.

Next spring you would decide how to space your bedding plants and dig carefully down into the layers into each spot and turn over enough of the spot to break up the dirt below before putting in your bedding plants (this won't do anything to soften it, just kill off the plants on the surface). I have done this with limited success a couple of times, and I think it would have been better if I'd been better at follow-through on keeping plants from encroaching around the edge of the new bed.

I often time do around the edge of the house this way, pull the weeds out, lay down paper, then put mulch on top.

SRS