Question
My soil is horrible! It has, what looks like tons of coal-like pebbles in it. I am not the best gardener, but I have tried planting "hard to kill" shrubs, that should grow in all types of soil. I've dug holes and added good soil and then placed the shrubs in it, but everything dies. Most recently creeping juniper and some kind of tall evergreen-like shrubs that everyone seems to have in southern illinois- where I live... And to top it off- this side of my house has tons of sun. What should I do about my soil with out spending tons of cash and is there a plant that will grow there that likes rocky soil and lots of sun? The area is small- 10' x 60'. No one uses the space. I just want it to look nice- with low maintance.

Answer
Hi Penny, When you plant a new shrub, it is important to amend the soil...not replace it. Add no more than 1/3 amendment, the rest should be your existing soil.  Dig wide, but not deep.  No deeper than the rootball but at least twice as wide.  Loosen and mix your soil thoroughly and plant with the top of the rootball an inch or two above your existing soil line.  Bring your soil up to, but not on top of, the rootball.  It should look like it is planted on top a little hill.  
The first season, you will need to carefully monitor it's water needs.  Your soil may seem damp, but the bark based soil that most plants are grown in dries much faster.  Until your new plant establishes roots into your soil, which takes about a full growing season, you'll need to check the soil every day or two. It is just as easy to over-water the plant.  That's why we don't replace the soil.  Water often builds up in layers of unlike soil.
Your choice of plants seems fine.  Most junipers and other conifers like that exposure.  I'd check the pH just to make sure it is ok. With conifers I'd aim for a pH around 6.
Too often we try to fix the soil when it's really not broke.  It just needs to be loosened to help a new plant get established.  Jim