sand is perfect for most things.. IF you can lug the hose properly ... mulch after really helps ...

nothing is drought proof.. for the season of planting.. and drought the second year ...

i do not recommend amending the soil ... see link ...

no clue about plants for your zone ...

ken

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub

What was the disease?

And what was the previous shrub?

Indian Hawthorne. Which I liked, but it was planted too close to the house and over the years basically died. 20 years it lasted. I liked it, might go back to it. Just wondering what else was out there.

Thanks for the soil link, very helpful

I'm just a tad further south than you and recently took out the front bedroom moustache of some hideous variegated euonymous thingie (I think) and possibly boxwood. Either way, they're gone. I've put in a mix of Mrs Schiller's Delight viburnum (native, evergreen) and oakleaf hydrangea.

The hydrangea probably won't like your full sun, but the viburnum should be fine there. And that particular cultivar will stay within your parametres.

https://www.ncsu.edu/jcraulstonarboretum/horticulture/introductions-and-promotions/choice-plants/viburnum-obovatum-mrs-schillers-delight%20.php

It's going to be tricky keeping a 4 foot tall shrub 2 foot wide without pruning back. I think that would spoil the shape of Viburnums or Hydrangeas.

Would you be willing to make the bed deeper so you have more than 2'-3' for the plant to grow? It will involve less pruning and look better for virtually any house to have a deeper planting bed.

Maybe one of the dwarf yaupons?

whatever you decide.. i do not favor monocultures ... mostly for the reason you are having to do this .. if one gets a problem.. they all might get the problem ..

i would suggest a diverse planting...

if you really want good suggestions... please post pix of the spots ...

keep in mind.. that no shrub/conifer/tree ..... stops growing at some magical height ... look for annual growth rates to understand how fast things grow ... e.g. if it grows a foot per year ... and you only want 3 feet.. you are going to have to be pruning it every other year ... so look for lesser annual growth rates ...

ken