Suggestions please

Large lawned areas of leasehold land around leasehold flats and houses.
Management company will be trying to improve over the next 2 years. Have to be careful with finances.
Soil poor - never been treated, area used to be a field.
No access to electricity or water unless owner home and offers.
Just started putting in laurel shrubs in some areas. We are not allowed to put in anything which might resemble a hedge as area is communal.

Would like help in best way to help soil and grass.
Would like suggestions about evergreenshrubs and plants which would be hardy.
Have large areas surrounding car parks so shrubs and plants would have to survive petrol fumes.

We have thought about replacing some grass area by having it laid with chippings and feature plants or grasses but this particular area has a lot of manhole covers of varying sizes and the ground is not level. Not a pretty sight.

Would appreciate any help you can offer.
Thank you.
Linda

Tough site

Reply from Anna Taylor

Dear Linda,
This sounds like a tricky one ! Are you part of the management company that is trying to improve this area ? I think I would start at seeing if any of the residents want to help or have ideas. If they have small gardens themselves, they might enjoy the idea of developing the gardens with you and creating a nice place to be with planted, paths, benches, even vegetables. This will also ensure that the space is cared for well too and not abused. I would start with this if appropriate.

If not, I can see how this could be a very difficult project. With all things, preparation is key, and might start with you stripping the turf and soil back, digging over the ground and improving the soil well before you level and re turf or plant. This is a time consuming and costly job but will help with success of anything you do in this space.

Choose planting that is tough and can cope with neglect, berberis, laural, hebes, ceanothus to start. Look to the plants that grow strong and well in your neighbourhood - flowering shrubs and grasses will need little attention.

I hope this helps, please feel free to email me any further information or photos and perhaps I can help further.

Best wishes,

Anna Taylor
http://www.landscaper.org.uk
http://www.woodhouselandscape.co.uk