In-ground beds are ideal for sites that already have at least 12 inches of soil. Some of the benefits and drawbacks of in-ground beds are listed below.

Here is a video of member David Kraemer working through the steps to build an in-ground bed in very compacted soil in East Austin.

Benefits 
• fully exposed to surrounding soil biology 
• soil temperatures do not fluctuate as dramatically as raised beds and container gardens
• soil tends not to dry out as quickly as raised beds and container gardens
• relatively cheap to install 

Drawbacks
• often require extensive weeding to establish
• often require large amounts of time and labor to loosen and amend existing soil (see
explanation of double digging below)
• more vulnerable to disturbance from pets and children
• require gardeners to bend down

Double Digging
New garden sites often have compact soil that needs to be loosened and amended in order to improve drainage, give roots room to grow and ensure that plants have the nutrients they require. Double digging is a labor-intensive but simple, cheap way to prepare new beds for planting. Note: This is a technique for starting new beds. Once a bed has been double dug, if it remains in production, it does not need to be double dug again.

Step 1: Call 811 to ensure there are no utility lines where you plan to dig.
Step 2: Begin at one end of the garden and dig a trench across the bed’s width. The trench should be around one foot deep. Place the excavated dirt into a wheelbarrow or at the opposite end of the garden. Remove any grass and other weeds as you dig and discard away from your garden.
Step 3: Work a spading fork into the floor of the trench and slowly rock the fork back and forth to loosen the soil another foot down.
Step 4: Dig another, equal-sized trench next to the first, this time placing the excavated soil in the first trench. Use the garden fork to loosen the soil at the bottom of the second trench. (Avoid stepping on the soil you have just loosened!)
Step 5: Repeat Step 4 until you reach the end of the bed, then fill the last trench with the soil in the wheelbarrow.
Step 6: Add a three-inch layer of compost to the garden bed and turn the compost into the soil. Break up large chunks of earth, remove any rocks and smooth the beds over so that the soil is flat.
Step 7: Mulch your beds with leaves or straw. You are now ready to plant!