I have an herb garden that I planted this Spring. I live just N of Dallas. I added compost to the bed and mulched. So far, the plants seem very happy with that. I have a soaker hose in there too. I have Thyme, Lavender, Oregano, Mexican Oregano and Rosemary. I still have to see how they make it through the Winter. I was pulling out some weeds a few weeks ago and saw a lot more earthworms in the bed than when I first planted... another good sign. BTW, I'm working towards getting my Texas Master Composter certification, so if you have any questions about compost, mulching, etc. I can probably answer them or get you to someone who can.