Gardening and Horticulture - Lawn With Plant Beds

I live in ct and trying to make a lawn with plants and grass this year……………
? I pulled all the old plants out 2 years ago and try planting new stuff and nothing lived but 2 little shrubs that stay close to the ground and I don’t even thing they grow more than an inch or 2.
The area is covered with a lot of shade I mean there is a tree 100% over where the plants would grow also the ground has a layer of roots growing across not from a tree but maybe a little plant and if you pull on its like a blanket or roots.
I am looking for low maintenance plants but still look nice in front of the house rite now you just see the foundation and I feel like the scum of the neighborhood.

Any help would be great
Thanks
:confused:

Shade tolerant plants are what you need for an area that is shaded 100% of the time.

Here is some information on improving the soil you have. You cannot add more than one inch of soil over an existing tree's root system without injuring the tree in the long run.

http://www.hort.cornell.edu/gardening/fctsheet/usingom/index.html

Here is a site about shade plants, flowering and otherwise.

http://www.gardenguides.com/TipsandTechniques/garden.htm

Hope this helps.