Help! Nothing grows around my mailbox!

[Connor's mom]

:?: Any ideas why nothing will ground around my mail box which is next to the asphalt street? I've tried all sorts of things and everything dies! Could it be that the ground gets too hot from the street? Should I do something to the ground since salt from the winter snow removal may have gotten into the bed? Area is in full sun and gets watered frequently by the sprinkler system. I live in St. Louis and at this point, I'll take any recommendations for what I can do or plant (preference is for something flowering, annual or perennial).

Thanks.
:(

[jjj]

I live near Madison Wi and have had very good luck interplanting Strawberry Gomphrenia & Victoria Blue Salvia around my mailbox. I also have tulips there.

In the past I have also had luck with Nicotiana but really fell for the color combo of the salvia and the gomp (and the gomph can be used as a dried flower)

[Newt]

Could there also be a dog that is using that as a bathroom? That will do it. Other things that can usually grow in full sun near a hot spot like you have would be verbena, lantana, sedums, moss rose - Portulaca, cosmos, african daisies, zinnia.

You did say it gets watered frequently. I'm wondering if the plants I suggested might get too much water. Also, if you are watering frequently by sprinkler, then I would think that the road salts would be washed away by now. What have you tried that didn't work? Maybe that would help.

Newt