Question
I have a raised bed under an oak and a hickory tree in east
Texas.  I can't get anything to grow well and I have one scrawny azalia left from 14 that I planted last year.  It has a soaker hose and is filled with a mixture of top soil and compost.  A few Hostas have survived also.  It is surrounded by our drive way and is in front of the house so it needs to look a whole lot better. Suggestions? Thank you

Answer
Here is a handy "east Texas" shade-gardening link, with some plant suggestions:

http://easttexasgardening.tamu.edu/homegardens/Shade/shade.html

As to the Oak, if you add soil & water to an existing oak that has been standing out in a field for (sometimes) hundreds of years, it may not fair too well...here in the west, this is certain death for the tree.  Since you live in East Texas, with lots of natural water, you may just get away with it!  

-Marc