Creative Roof Garden Ideas
February 5th, 2010 | by |If you live in the city and you have a little roof or balcony area to work with, you may be able to plant and grow a garden. Designing landscaping ideas for places like these generally has to address the obstacles of constant severe winds and scorching heat from direct sun. And then again, with some good plans and planting ideas, you can design some screening to block the wind as well as make some shade for sun protection.
The first and most important step in planning a garden like this is to find out how good the construction of the building is. See if you can find out what type of materials the roof is made of. And if it’s a balcony, the materials and how it’s constructed. A balcony can be a small space. If it will have to hold a lot of potted plants, containers, and other elements, it should be able to support the weight. To prevent leaks, small gardens that are placed on roofs should be completely water proof as well as have proper drainage. There should also be a safe way to get to the roof if it is going to be easily accessed and enjoyed.
In and around your roof garden there will most probably be wires or poles. These can easily be hidden or screened out simply by giving your planting scheme a little thought. While small containers and pots filled with flowers will add a visual element to the garden, taller larger container plants can also create a screen to block out neighboring views and keep your atmosphere in. As you would with most small gardens, patio designs, and courtyards, don’t overcrowd what little space you have to work with. Make sure there is room for somewhere to sit - and a pleasant view deserves to be framed rather than annihilated by a rooftop jungle.
It’s often best practice to use long light weight wood planters rather than a lot of small pots as it will spread the weight of the load out over more area. Optionally you can use a soil moistening product products like polymer crystals in the container mix which will cut down on maintenance since plants in these mixes require less watering. It may also be worthwhile to consider a hydroponics system, especially if the roof is structurally unable to bear much weight, since plants grown hydroponically require only a liquid medium, which weighs less than containers full of soil.
A small worm colony or wormery in the corner of your balcony or roof garden is a good consideration for city gardens. Your wormery can make some nutrient rich soil for your plants while also disposing of household waste in a way that is both useful and green.
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