Gardens take time!
Some people on here have a traditional set up.Installed raised beds,put in a ton of well chosen plants,good bagged soil,installed irrigation and had an up and running garden in a very short time(2yrs).I'm impressed with that! However, that's a very expensive route to gardening. Nothing wrong with it if you have the money or the inclination.
That said, I don't have that kind of money so I understand your concern about expense. I make my own mulch from kitchen scraps,composted leaves(collected around the neighborhood) and my 2 pet hens.
For plants,I trade and swap plants,ask for cuttings and collect seeds.
I have home made rain barrels and no installed irrigation here. My water bill is usually lower than my neighbors with sod.
My plants are native or adapted (with a few exceptions in containers) I chose the bulk of my plants from TX smartscape's list and tend toward aggressive plants in the areas away from my house. I also did a bog for plants that like things contiually moist.
My garden will look like it's been planned out and ready to go in about 5 yrs. Twice as long,plus some, than traditional installed beds.
I can give you a list of plants you can't kill if you try!
If people on here say,"I hate this plant! It's EVERYWHERE! I CAN'T kill this (insert insulting word)plant!!! Help!
I know I have a low water winner! LOL!
Here's a few...remember once these flowers are in they will be VERY difficult to erradicate!
Ruellia,Wood violets,Maximillian Sunflowers,Obedient plant,frog's fruit, yellow hardy iris,blue hardy iris,tropical sage(coccinia salvia I did manage to kill this tho....sad.), TX native wildflower mix from Native American Seed(Mex hat,blanket flower,lemon mist etc...) Mexican marigold(I think),Spiderwort, Cannas,winecups,tomatoes(surprise! these guys volunteered all over!), sunflowers,cross vine(not aggressive but it didn't need it to hold my hand either),morning glories and moonflower vine, datura(poisonous), and lots of ornamental trees to provide dappled shade.
On my hell strip (street sidewalk area) Evening primrose,hardy yellow iris, frog's fruit and iron weed hopefully)Evening primrose is HARDY. I wouldn't put it anywhere but a hell strip. I also did Mint in containers and the mint grew out of the bottom!!! You gotta keep an eye on mint and Evening primrose.PJ

Karen,

Several inches of mulch on top of the soil will help protect from the heat. Compost dug into the soil will improve the quality of the soil. Your plants will probably appreciate both.

But maybe that's not the only problem. What have you been trying to grow? Maybe you're selecting the wrong kinds of plants. Have you considered trying some Texas natives? The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has a database that might be helpful: http://wildflower.utexas.edu/plants/ It's a fun place to visit for ideas, too, if you're anywhere near Austin.

Take a look at the Texas SuperStars, too.

Here is a link that might be useful: Texas SuperStars

You know what - a one year garden or a fifty year garden doesn't matter the age - we love the color. It's also in the getting there.
The color can come from a single plant or it can come from a yard filled oasis. You might try starting in small projected areas instead of seeing the entire yard as a have to be done 2007 project. If I have one bed that is successful (like I did last year) I feel okay. This year I have the bug again, guess it's because we received some wet stuff, and I am giving the buy buy buy another try. I am amending my soil this year too, by adding composted cow manure and layering with mulch then more manure, the lasagna method - sort of. It's much easier on the back and still can provide a lot of fun. My beds were predefined but lacked a punch!

I am finding that a single beautifully planted area is just as satisfying as a yard full. BUT, when you are able to have a yard filled, you have paradise. Nice yards require time and effort.

I have read this comment before, some people take big vacations, spend time traveling abroad, while some people spend time at their homes. In a perfect world we'd all take both! Not having won the lottery yet, I still have to opt for the can and can not do.

Roxann

Karen, where is this flower bed cemetery located? Facing west against the house, facing east under an eave? Both problem areas but addressed in different ways. I have a bed 18" wide between my sidewalk & house (stupid builder) that is a problem for me, but mulching works there to even out the moisture. I have another area that faces west with reflected heat off the house. Most things just cook there but I found that planting, and then putting a layer of cardboard around the roots of the plant & rest of flower bed & then mulch on top of that keeps it moist & the plants are doing much better.

Hey PJ, a question. Do you live within city limits with chickens? Is there a way around the restrictions? I want chickens!

PJ, I decided I *hate* obedient plant. I had it in my garden for a while and what it did was: spread every year, and demanded waterwaterwater or it would get limp and droopy and sad. Grew like a weed and ***finally*** bloomed in the fall for about a week. BAH!!! HATE IT! I guess if you have a dampish spot, it might be pretty okay.

Karen, if things are dying, perhaps you are planting things that are wrong for the conditions. Native plants don't require as much soil amendment, but they generally like lots of sun. We need more information! 'Splain the cemetery area!

Karen, We do need more info as the above post ask. I'm wondering if your not being to kind to the plants? Maybe over watering them or in the wrong location? Are you getting the plants wet or do you just water the ground around them, this is the best way to water, most plants don't like their leaves wet and most flowers don't like getting wet either.
I have not watered in two months with all the rain we've had and it feels so good not to worry about watering the plants, it gives me more time to do other things.
Do not mix in the mulch just spread it out over the top of the beds but you can just use compost. Compost does both in giving your plants much needed organic matter and protects them from drying out.
How long have you lived in your home? Could be someone poured something in the area that is making the plants die? Is the bed next to a neighbor? We've have had people report that neighbors put weed killer on their bed to kill their plants.
The more info you can give us the better we can help you out. Names of plants helps out too.

Marti8,I live within the city limits of Benbrook Texas. I asked the animal control guy outright. He was reluctant and told me only 2 hens,kept clean and well cared for or else. That was a year ago. No complaints so far! I have to tell ya a few things. Chickens are a popular food item... for anything that likes meat! They are domesticated and an easy kill. I tractor mine during the day(wire pen that I drag everywhere to get them to eat up weeds/fertilize. At night I put them in a reinforced,metal cloth lined cage/converted dog kennel(heavy but portable too). The trick to keeping chickens around is a tractor(they'll stink up an area they are in one place in something awful!) And a really,really safe place to be at night. PJ

Hey, thanks so much for all the suggestions. Further information--I removed all the foundation (typical shrubs) because I wanted a more mixed-border look. I had someone come in and amend and put in some "bones" and I have been adding perennials, but it's the third year and I still don't have the lush look that I want, I just can't seem to get anything to thrive. If anything it looks worse than before I started. So I thought if I put something down (manure, compost) it would help, but I was wondering what everyone else uses and do you rake up the mulch first? Then replace it?
PJ thanks so much for the suggestions, I have some, but will keep your list in my car for those times when only plant shopping will do...(also SOOOO envious about the chickens)
treelover, I love the Texas Superstars website, just wish I had found it before spending so much on plants that didn't make it.
Roxann, I love your lasagne method. I will definitely be trying that.
Marti, my house faces south, but there is a small tree for dappled shade from the afternoon sun. I moved a salvia (the red one with the twiggy stems, sorry bad with names) into a sunnier location because the tag said sun and it promptly died.
prairiepaintbrush, it's the bed in front of the house, not EXACTLY a cemetary, but I think I have heard plants scream in fright as I put them in my cart at HD.
Barb, I haven't watered in a while, and it looks like we won't have to this coming week either. I can't imagine putting weedkiller on plants, I have a couple of plants that are, technically, weeds (but pretty), and in my garden, if you are remotely attractive, you are praised (I'm so shallow!!!)
Thanks for all and any help, I am sincerely hoping the problem is with my soil and not me, it's just too much of downer to stink at something you enjoy. Maybe they need a stern talking-to. (Or I throw up my hands in resignation and find another hobby) Karen

You said that, I had someone come in and amend and put in some "bones". Do you know what they used to amend the bed with cause if this was done right I would think you plants should be big and full.
I use the manure compost mix with plain compost, you will have to move the mulch back to add it but you don't have to mix the compost into the soil just water it good then cover back up with the mulch.
If the soil is hard clay only then have I mixed the compost into the soil.
Your plants may need more sun? Some require a full 6 or more hours of sun, part shade plant only 3 to 5 morning hours sun light.
Last spring calloways did soil testing for free if thing's don't get better I would have a test done before planting anything else.
Don't give up I don't think it's you.