Creative Roof Garden Ideas
If you have a home in the crowded city and have access to a little bit of roof or balcony, it’s a perfect opportunity to turn an otherwise useless space into a beautiful garden. Designing landscaping ideas for places like these generally has to address the obstacles of constant severe winds and scorching heat from direct sun. Still, you can design some screening to block the wind as well as make some shade for sun protection.
The first thing you need to do when you plan a garden like this is to study how the building is built. Pay attention to what materials the roof is made of. Or if it’s a balcony, how it is put together. Balconies and roof space can be very small areas and if they’re required hold potted plants, furniture, and other decor, they should be able to support a considerable amount of weight. When designing and building small gardens on balconies or roofs, the roof has to be water tight so that there are no leaks. Also, a good system for drainage is important to help channel excess water away. if it is going to be easily accessed and enjoyed, there should be a safe way to get to the roof or balcony garden.
Around your roof garden there will likely be poles or wires. These can easily be camoflaged by planting the right types of plants in the right places. Taller container plants can also screen your neighbor’s view and form a green barrier while smaller pots full of flowers will add some color. When designing any small spaces like small gardens, patio ideas, and courtyards, try not to crowd the small amount of space that you have. Make sure there is at least a little seating area and keep the views framed and not totally covered up.
Using long light weight material planting containers instead of smaller single pots will spread the weight of the planters out more evenly over the roof. It’s a good idea to also add water absorbing crystals into your planting medium. This can help lessen your plants daily watering as they hold water until plants need it and it all doesn’t just evaporate. A hydroponics system for growing your plants might also be a good consideration if your roof is structurally not able to hold much weight. Hydroponically grown plants only need a liquid nutrient and light medium which weigh a lot less than dirt filled planters.
You may also consider keeping a wormery in your roof garden so that you can give your plants some rich organics while also being responsibly green.
