When I purchased my house in 2000, it had Mexican Sage bushes in front (grey leaves, purple flowers). After a couple of years or so, every other shrub was dead, and the remaining ones were half dead. I pulled them out and planted 5 Purple barberry. All died off within a year. I replanted: 3 died. I then planted 2 pencil cypress this spring. One is 80% brown, the other is just starting; the surviving barberries are dead. They have been getting watered at least every other day. The bed contains tradescentia/wandering jew ground cover that is growing like weeds. I also had lambs ears planted, but they are dying off.

The shrub's leaves turn light brown and crispy, starting in one spot then moving across the plant. The sickness seems to spread from one plant to the next in order, from left to right. I've sprayed for insects and fertilized. Whatever it is doesn't bother the wandering jew at all. I also have 2 crepe myrtles at either end that are fine. Could it be an interaction with the wandering jew?

I'm really tired of replacing shrubbery every year. Before I planted the cypress, I dug a big hole and filled with compost, garden soil, manure mixture. The front of my house gets afternoon sun. There is a water spigot in the bed; also an access for the sewer pipes in the house (where you would insert the roto-rooter). Could either of these have an effect?