By Chrish
United States 
What soil? the builders have laid a block paving drive for me and left two beds for plants. Quite shallow and small, clay at the bottom. North facing, in the south of England, with reflective light. I have camellias, azaleas, cottoniesta and maybe heathers.
So it looks like ericaceous compost? Do I mix it with top-soil? If I add spring bulbs will that change the soil mix?
22 Feb, 2018
Answers
welcome to GoY.
If it is shallow then most shrubs wont thrive no matter what you add to it. Heathers would be ok and most of them would do better in ericaceous mix soil. you can buy topsoil to fill the beds and mix it with multipurpose compost.
22 Feb, 2018
I have a north facing front garden and find the most success with hardy fuchsias (Mrs Popple), Arum lilies, pulmonaria, alchemilla mollis, a climbing rose (Golden Showers), ferns and a variegated laurel, which may not be everyone's favourite but it brightens up a dull corner all winter and this year is laden with really bright red berries.
Might your camellia have a better chance in a large tub?
23 Feb, 2018
Where are you located, US or South of England?
22 Feb, 2018