Question
Hi,
We have an area on one side of our house that will not let us grow anything. We planted Japanese evergreen(I think that is what they were called) last year and they all died. This year we planted lamium and it is dying also. My husband put down plastic under the pebble rocks to block out the weeds from growing. Then cut holes to plant to plants in. Could this be the problem. When we get rain or water them, are they getting root rot from the plastic not allowing for proper drainage. We live in Missouri and the soil is rocky and hard clay. Thank you for any help that you can give me.

Answer
Hi Deb, The plastic is the problem. Rake out the rock and remove the plastic. Your soil will probably be sour under the plastic, so add about 2" of finely ground pink bark and 2-3 lbs of agricultural lime per 100 square feet and till it into the top 6"-8" of your soil. Plastic prevents air movement and kills all the beneficial microbes needed for good soil.  Tilling this will loosen the soil and improve your drainage.
Instead of plastic, use landscape fabric and replace the rock.  Check you pH in 30 days, if it's near 6, then plant again.  Jim