Fill a brown bag with a pint of dirt, sampled from around your yard. Take it to your county agent, or call the New Mexico State University Cooperative Extension Service for instructions. The results will guide you in preparing your site. Almost always, the soil will need nitrogen, but the results of a soil test will specify the exact amendments your landscape needs. A drip irrigation system produces the healthiest plants with the least water use because the water penetrates the soil slowly without compacting.
Uncompacted soil has room for oxygen, necessary for good plant growth.
Drip irrigation encourages plants to develop extensive root systems, flourishing on less water than conventional sprinkling. Compost and mulch work with the drip system to help plants thrive. Mixed in with the soil, it adds nutrients. Compost acts like a sponge to keep nutrients in the soil and slowly release them to the plants' roots. Mulch is placed on the surface of the soil.