Too much compost, all maple shavings?

Oh dear, A.N. I do wish you'd have had that maple split into manageable-size pieces, and sold it for firewood!

The first thing that comes to my mind is that you'll have trouble keeping your garden properly hydrated---all that chunkage will have improved the drainage to such a degree that your plants may not have sufficient moisture. Another problem might be that wood decomposition will rob your garden of nitrogen.

Since you have two other garden spots, I would (a) allow this one to lie fallow for at least one year and (b) plant a "green manure" crop this fall (such as clover) that can be tilled in the following spring. This should help your garden's nitrogen levels return to normal. If you have a well (and don't have to pay an enormous water bill), try to keep the affected garden wet, wet, wet this summer, to speed decomposition of the maple chunks, as well.

Oh BTW---better an "escaped city boy" than a lifelong one! ;)

Its great that you saved your mulched tree. So much ends up in landfills. However, it takes approx. 2 years for most tree chippings to deteriorate into "soil". Mixing with loam helps tremendously, so tilling it in can only help! One caution tho. Maple is known to inhibit seedlings.

You might want to sow one of the hardier, soil conditioning green manures in the new bed this year. Most green manures such as alfalfa or oats have deep roots which pull more nutrients up into the topsoil via dead plant parts. The worms also have natural channels to travel by way of next year's decayed roots. Cut or mow down the green manure after 10% flowers. This creates its own weed inhibiting mulch, and, prevents it from taking over next year by reseeding. Leave the clippings right where they drop. Next year you can pretty much plant anything in your already fluffy rich soil that requires no tilling for years (if it isn't walked on.) Enjoy!

I totally agree with the 2 comments posted, they are correct in every detail, welcome to the real world of country living