Thorough soil preparation
To increase plant health and conserve water, add organic matter to the soil in shrub and flowerbed areas. This increases the soil's ability to absorb and store water in a form available to the plant. As a rule-of-thumb, mix in 4 to 6 inches of organic matter such as shredded pine bark and rice hulls. For trees and large areas of turf grass, incorporating organic matter is not necessary, it is not economically feasible.