Well, not on purpose!

We just moved to Alabama from the Great Lakes area and have a large lot with
Bermuda turf out front and woods in the back. My problem is the planting
areas around the house are clay and its the kind where it's rock hard when
it's dry and you sink into it when it's wet.

The builder put loropetalum and creeping juniper at the front of the house
(and he says he added topsoil) but several of the loropetalum and one
juniper looks half dead. They are on the north side of the house but most of
the bad ones are far enough out to get some sun. What if anything can I try
to save these plants?

BTW, irrigation system and underground utilities run through the beds at the
house and along the planting beds bordering my neighbors property lines so
rototilling is out. We also sit about 100 ft. back from the street, so
there is lots of ground for us to cover. Any other suggestions for what
besides trees grow in these conditions would be welcomed.

Jo