Good Morning Greg, 

Thank you for contacting the U of M Extension Service. 

Here is a link to yellow barberry information: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=242250&isprofile=1&basic=Japanese%20barberry

Clearly your barberry and arborvitae are not thriving in this location. The barberry information indicates it should have full sun, 6-7 hours a day. Your mulch is dark. With the sun shining on the mulch, it will heat up the soil. 

Here is a link to information about your arborvitae: https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/PlantFinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=279599

Here is a link to getting a soil test: https://extension.umn.edu/managing-soil-and-nutrients/soil-testing-lawns-and-gardens

Your arborvitae looks like it may have sidewalk salt damage on the bottom. Is the snow from the sidewalk shoveled with salt near the shrub? 

You could consider planting pollinator plants. 

Good Luck!