You can certainly layer on compost or manures in fall and then lightly dig them in or incorporate into the soil before spring planting.

Lime or soil sulphur are also spread in fall.

I've heard that you can add compost, manure, and even leaves in the fall, and that the worms will work them into the soil over the winter. I guess it depends on where you live because I tried dumping piles of leaves over my veggie bed last fall. I covered the bed with a tarp for the winter, lifted it off in spring and the leaves were still there, in exactly the same format. At least it made good mulch for my crops :).

Maybe the tarp was the problem. Depending on your climate, it might keep the leaves too dry to rot. I cover my allotment with leaves during the winter but I don’t cover the leaves.

Leaves are great in garden beds and around plants for the fall and winter months. They don't break down completely, but you should definitely see some soil improvement. Just don't use oak leaves. Thos never break down. Not ever..................

I built beds using the lasagna method which is best done before winter so things can compost and settle down over winter. But in the spring I topped the beds with composted manure and that's what I planted in. Last year I left chopped maple leaves on one bed. They didn't compost but I didn't expect them to. I just wanted to keep the bed from getting weedy in fall and spring.

I chop crop residues up well. I then add my organic matter and till in. I tend to make some ridges in the fall so that rows will be dryer and warmer for spring planting. Some plots get a cover crop that winter kills after chopping and adding and tilling in. These things work very well for me.

I have to grow tomatoes year after year in my garden, which I know is not a good idea, but I really have no other sunny space. So wondering if there is anything I can do to avoid vectoring tomato diseases, other than removing the spent tomato plants. Also wondering about amendments. I might start making banana peel slurries and burying them until the ground gets too hard . . .