Communal garden not communal

[SummertimeZadness]

I live in a block of flats with a communal garden.

The communal garden is beautiful (truly) because one family in the building in particular has been looking after it (they were here before I moved in).

But it does not feel communal. While getting access is no problem, in terms of gardening and tending after, it is their space. They do everything their way. Every corner has been planted by them. Every year, without telling anyone, they add new stuff, water feature, irrigation, protective tents, etc. They moved my own garden furniture to the side to make place for their much more elegant designer one...

But I am also a gardener at heart, and that's my problem. I can see how much love and care they have put into it, I can appreciate they are doing a great work, that no one else was doing it before they arrived, that if I had been in their shoes, I would have done the same, that this garden makes a lot of people happy, that I could not match their level of investment, time, money, skills, that it would be mortifying for all to speak up, but every Spring, or every time they add something without asking, it gets me mad/sad.

Anyone has a word of wisdom for me?
I stupidly bought some seeds today.
Maybe I should go plant them in the local park in stealth.

Just go down when they are there and say you'd like to get involved. You could get an allotment. But sounds like you'd rather have somewhere with your own garden. It's a bit cheeky and selfish of them to make a communal space theirs.

Sounds like they think it is their own garden

Is there any chance they’d actually be delighted if someone else offered to do some of the gardening? They might assume if they don’t do it, it won’t get done. Maybe sound them out and say you’d love to take responsibility for a bed or add some pots and see what the vibe is?

(That said, moving your furniture without at least having a conversation with you does sound like there’s a sense of ownership)

Just say they’ve done a great job and you’re also a keen gardener so would like to manage one of the corners and ask which one you could have.

the issue with furniture etc isn’t they are putting it out and then not allowing it to be used communally.

We have table and chairs in our shared garden but owner is happy for everyone to use them and they replaced the old set that had worn down that we shared so saved us all money. This especially counts as they’ve moved yours. If they move yours then they need to have theirs as sharing or they are being selfish.

Try speaking to them?

If they didn't do the garden (cut the grass, etc), who would? What does your lease say about maintaining it or do you manage the block yourselves? I'd certainly have a chat with them but be ready to take on 'your allocated corner' for ever - no slacking now! Personally, I'd make a very cautious initial approach in case they're at all touchy and flounce. Clear the air about garden furniture though - communal means for all to enjoy.

I think you need to go round and have a chat with them.

Explain that you think what they have done is lovely and you appreciate how they have taken care of the space but you really want to put your stamp on it too.

I do wonder if there is others in the block that think the same as you as well but don't want to put their nose out of joint.

Could you and neighbours send a letter to each neighbor suggesting a meeting about the communal garden and how everyone wants to move forwards?

Then you can either all agree on work (well whoever comes to the meeting or responds) and designs together, or, a portion of the garden for people who want to do their own thing to work in?

It is a communal space and everyone should get to use it how they want whether that be sit in the space or actually garden

I would let them carry on - and enjoy the garden in the way I would if I stayed in a hotel or there were paid gardeners. To garden myself I would get an allotment or volunteer in a local community garden project. Can think of loads of options near me (South East London) for this type of thing.

Is it definitely communal?

I'd speak to them and say which part of the garden you'd like to start on, planting your seeds, etc. They might welcome the extra input but if they don't, that's their own issues and they'll have to just accept it.

Couldn’t cope with a communal garden tbh. Having to possibly speak to other people in my own home? Shudder.

Try talking to them?

Is there a property management company?
Find out the rules first, obviously, as in is it actually a communal garden or do they have some ownership there etc.
Are there rules around what furniture can go where, etc.

That seems cheeky about the garden furniture. Are you and others 'allowed' to use theirs, or is there a sense that it's theirs and it's for them only?
I'd start with a friendly conversation about how you too love gardening and you'd love to be involved. How they respond will dictate how things go from there.

I wouldn’t expect them to ask permission each time they add something new. That would quickly get tedious for everyone, so it’s silly being annoyed about them continuing to add to the garden. But if you are feeling unable to garden yourself then that’s a different matter. The thing to do is to talk to them. You don’t need to ask their permission of course, but it makes sense to agree on an area for you to take responsibility for. I have been in a similar situation, and found it awkward at first, but actually the ‘head gardener’ was delighted to have some help and someone to chat to about plants!

I'm convinced I've read this thread before from YEARS ago. Right down to the furniture. It was actually one that went on over several threads and I think had a weird ending.

Communal is likely to mean that everyone is entitled to access the garden. Maintenance would be carried out by a contractor. Maybe they have the contract.

Can you imagine the chaos if everyone was entitled to go out and start digging up wherever they pleased? Even trying to coordinate that would be like herding cats. At the very least each flat would have to be allocated a plot and if that’s the case it will be in your tenancy agreement or title deeds.

Talk to them.

how many flats share the communal garden? Is there a system for managing it? Is anyone paid to do the maintenance?

Garden is definitely communal for the whole building (a dozen flats), all amenities/furniture are shared, no contractor, but no rules, tenant's association or meetings, no lawn.

This is the first time I am posting about it, but not surprised this kind of situation has been posted about before, I should go dig that thread, maybe I would find some tips!

Thanks for all your advice, but it is obviously something very close to their hearts and their favourite hobby, I don't think they realise. If I spoke, they would probably be very mortified and it's not a great climate to create between neighbours, especially for such a pretty garden. I can't post pictures, but it's looking glorious, honestly.

I am going to let it go and accept it's their project, except for one feature they put last year that I suspect is causing issues to the building (and is visually invasive), I think that would be fair and measured.

But just getting it off my chest and see other people understand, it makes things a lot lighter, thanks for your replies!

Just chat to them. They aren’t going to just leave it in the hope other residents pitch in when in all the time they’ve been there that hasn’t happened.

I think rather than just going and buying plants and asking for a corner which will make the garden look disjointed, you should look suggest setting up a residents gardening committee or club. Where you can share tasks and plan for the year.

Tbh, this is why I would never buy or rent somewhere with a communal garden. It belongs to no individual, so you surely know when you’re buying it that you have to cooperate with each other normally when making decisions about planting etc. so you presumably went into this knowing you didn’t have your own garden.

Honestly, a communal garden sounds like absolute hell to me. I’d just be grateful someone else was doing all the dirty work tbh.

Do you not pay a ground rent to cover the communal areas of the flats upkeep? Usually this includes the grounds as well as shared corridors etc. If you are paying a ground rent, then what's it actually for????!!! Is there not a company that comes in who maintains flower beds/grass cutting/hedge cutting etc? If there isn't anyone, then the other residents have just taken it upon themselves, and you could buy rights ask if you can help.

Arrangement described here is quite normal for Scotland.
I think you could speak to them about it in a wanting to help way?

We have a communal garden and pay gardeners to keep it up, I am always wary of individual flat owners maintaining common parts. TBH the ground floor flats use it more than the rest of us, but that doesn't really create too much tension as upper floor flats all have large private balconies

I would definitely apply for an allotment just for you - best of both worlds.