Hicksville sits on Long Island's flat mid-island plain, where sandy loam soil drains quickly after rain and leaves garden beds parched well before the next storm arrives. With 46 inches of annual rainfall arriving unevenly through the season, homeowners here rely on mulch as their primary moisture-retention tool to carry ornamental plantings through summer heat. The Zone 7b growing window from mid-April to early November rewards gardeners who amend that sandy topsoil with organic matter, since nutrients leach out nearly as fast as water does. Nearby residents in Plainview and Huntington Station work with the same fast-draining substrate, and Commack gardeners face identical summer irrigation pressure. Quality bulk mulch and amended soil are the most practical tools for keeping this corner of Long Island looking its best.