What to put in a public space - very dry, poor ground

[SeaEagleFeather]

There's a grotty set of flower beds which are completely unloved at the local outdoor swimming pool. I'd like to do something to make them look prettier. I'm very new to gardening so I don't know much

The soil is completely neglected so I've already spread some fertilizer on it, kind of granular stuff.

We're in the Netherlands so the climate is like the UK but a bit more extreme, in high summer you can get 2 weeks without rain and temperatures of 28 - 33 each day. Most of the beds are in full sunlight, one is shaded by a lovely old tree.

I don't know what the current scrubby bushes are except that they have lots of thorns.

i've planted a bit of lavender and three lonely Chinese pennisetum and scattered some mixed annual seeds in the hope that it's not too late for them to grow.

Watering will be difficult, they don't have a tap with a screw attachment for a hose so all I can do is lug a few buckets of water and they are quite big beds

Love to hear any ideas of what would look pretty, be low maintenance and not need much water? :)

How about some grasses? No idea what sort but they can be quite good with low moisture areas and give a bit of a costal/dune vibe.

Poppies will thrive anywhere

Some of the herbs like dry conditions like that and they don't need brilliant soil. Thyme, rosemary, oregano, winter savory (bergbohnenkraut) all do well in our garden here in S Germany, we have a similar climate to yours I think (hot dry spells in the summer and proper cold winters)

thanks =) Ill scatter poppy seeds earlier in the year next year, they should be nice around now. Cornflowers too.

Hadn't thought of herbs, thyme oregano and winter savory would be really nice

I'll put some grasses round the edges I think

Lavender? Once it gets going it pretty much takes care of itself.

Rock rose (Cistus) is very tolerant of drought and neglect, it is a Mediterranean plant. It produces beautiful delicate papery flowers. There is one neglected in a pot in the playground at my kids' school, no one ever looks after it or waters it and every year without fail it puts out these beautiful flowers (white with one dark red spot on each petal)

Also cotton lavender (Santolina) which has a nice scent and little yellow flowers

Hardy geraniums and meadow buttercups thrive on neglect.

OP - if planting grasses maybe put in the middle ? They should grow tall and will make growing stuff in middle difficult .

Personally I think if it were me I'd try and improve the soil - bark chippings over compost and encourage what is already there .It looks as tho something low growing and thorny has been planted .

With it being a public space I think you need tough stuff that will withstand litter blowing/being thrown into it and being removed etc .

Hopefully ppl will be along to suggest attractive more municipal stuff and instant summery stuff - nasturiums ?.

Are they mahonias in the second picture? When were they planted? They grow to a decent size so either those are still young or their growth is impeded. The soil looks rock solid. As a PP suggested, try improving the condition of the soil.

I dont know what the shrubs are, though I do know they have thorns, ouch! Fairly sure they've been there a long time though, many years. Agreed the soil really needs improving.

hmm good idea about grasses in the middle. Grasses and lavendar and some herbs would be great for the scents.

Do like the idea of some flowering flowers too, rock roses and the others are a good start. Please keep the ideas coming =)

Would hardy geraniums survive the neglect?

Hardy geraniums thrive on neglect in the right conditions! I cleared a whole load out of a slope in my garden 2 years ago and must have left a couple of cm of rhizome in the ground because there's now about a square m of geraniums cheerfully blooming in the space.

IME the gemeente are likely to clear the beds just when you've got things growing nicely

grins luckily mrslettuce it's actually on technically private land. Otherwise yes, I wouldnt trust the gemeente not to rip it all up. They'd probably look after it better int he first place though