Remove the black plastic stuff and throw it away. Your seeds were trying to grow in the thin layer of dire on top of the plastic.

Add a layer of compost or mulch
Water thoroughly
Then plant something

You need to tell us where you live for a plant recommendation.

Yes, get rid of that landscape fabric. If, as appears, the soil depth is not at least 6 inches the plants roots would not have enough room to move around in search of food and water and without food and water everything dies.
Since all plants need a good healthy soil to grow strong and healthy you then need to asses what you have there. Your state universities Cooperative Extension Service may offer soil testing for soil pH and major nutrients, or if not can provide information about where to have that done. To further understand the soil you have these simple soil tests can help,
1) Soil test for organic matter. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24 hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight. For example, a good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top.

2) Drainage. Dig a hole 1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drainsâ too quickly and needs more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up.

3) Tilth. Take a handful of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a finger that clump should fall apart.

4) Smell. What does your soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria will be and the nicer your soil will smell.

5) Life. How many earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5, according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that is not healthy.
and can provide the information needed to make that soil into a good healthy soil that will grow strong and healthy plants.

it would also be helpful to know the type of soil under the plastic
or,, type of soil in the general area.
is that a hard clay ?

If , deep underneath the plastic is also very hard, i would try to loosen it before planting anything, and maybe add some compost and mix it in. used coffee grounds work for me.
they bring in worms, and worms break up the soil, add worm poo and get the beneficial microbes started.

Hi Kimmsr-

Your state's university Cooperative Extension Service was set up primarily for:

(1) Agricultural farmlands for advice on how to utilize complex ratios of synthetic ferilizers ?

or

(2) Homeowners who currenlty lack enough adequate organic material in their soil ?

M

This post was edited by Mackel-in-DFW on Sat, May 24, 14 at 11:01

Thanks for the replies. I loosened it all up yesterday and then mixed in compost. It looks much healthier.

What did you end up planting? Is it in sun, shade, both, or? I'm curious about how it's working out for you. Hope the news is good! :D

With cracking like that, it's probably hard clay (which is what I have).

You did the right thing with the compost. Pretty much any organic material you can put into the soil will help (compost, mulching, whatever). Even just making sure the soil has plants growing on it and isn't just baking in the sun will help.