- 1). Test the soil to determine its health. Soil test kits can be obtained from you local university extension office or from lawn and garden stores. Use the test results to determine if nutrients or compost needs to be blended into the soil. This should be done the season prior to planting so added nutrients or compost have time to incorporate with the soil. Also add compost to balance the soil if the soil seems like it has too much silt, clay or sand. Add up to 25-percent compost.
- 2). Plant trees that are native to the region. Talk to the folks at your local garden store or extension office for more information. Trees around the buildings will create privacy, make the setting feel more intimate, will help keep they area cool in the summer and will create a buffer from strong winds. For public housing, it is safer not to plant clusters of too many trees. To keep public housing safe, community members need to watch for suspicious activities, and clusters of too many trees will decrease visibility.
- 3). Determine what you will use for the primary ground cover. Grass can be used, but easier-to-maintain alternatives include clover, thyme, moss, Corsican mint, or bark chips and landscaping boulders. Using one of these lower-maintenance alternatives requires less watering and mowing and will help keep down the grounds-keeping costs for public housing.
- 4). Establish plants that are perennial and that will grow easily in your region. Wildflowers, shrubs, bushy ground covers and ornamental grasses are all easy to care for. Plant just a few larger beds of clustered plants, rather than lots of small beds, for quick and easy maintenance. Do not make the beds too large, as this makes it difficult to reach the center plants when necessary. Install durable treated wood or brick edging around the beds to create a retaining border. Raised beds can also be constructed with treated lumber.
- 5). Install chain link or cast iron fencing around the premises to deter unwelcome guests and criminal activity.
- 6). Provide a community seating area in a shaded area of the premises where public housing residents can gather and get to know one another. In public housing it is essential to create an environment that encourages the community. to support and look after one another. This doesn't take much--a couple of garden benches, a picnic table and maybe a swing set or a teeter-totter for the kids. Any seating areas or playground equipment must be solid and stable to ensure the safety of your residents.
- 7). Maintain the grounds. Manicure the plants regularly and remove weeds to prevent infestation, overgrowth and a sense of decay. Plants should not be allowed to obstruct sidewalks or paths. Do not let sidewalks, ramps, steps or patios come into disrepair. Sidewalk access in public housing needs to be kept clear and obstructions or cracks can easily cause residents to slip and fall. Public housing often accommodates disabled folks, so sidewalks also need to be kept clear and safe for those using wheelchairs and other disabled residents.
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