What Is a Rooftop Garden? A rooftop garden is a collection of container plants that home gardeners or landscapers keep on the rooftop of a f...
What Is a Rooftop Garden?
A rooftop garden is a collection of container plants that home gardeners or landscapers keep on the rooftop of a flat building, often an apartment building. Plants can vary from vegetable plants to ornamental shrubs. The setup can be as simple as planting a few plants in terracotta pots or as established as constructed garden beds with automatic watering systems.
Why start a Rooftop Garden? It's a great way to use space you might otherwise ignore, and can be an attractive addition to your home. Whether you have a small apartment patio or a big suburban backyard, there are benefits to planting up high.
If you love the idea of having a garden but don't have enough space and time, then rooftop gardening is an excellent option. With careful planning, your rooftop can become a source of beauty, food and relaxation. Here's how to start a rooftop garden in 10 steps:
1) Build the base for Roof Gardening
●Waterproofing Layer
•The first and most important step is to waterproof your roof to prevent any leakage. The roof that you’re planning to plant your greens should be waterproofed, frost-resistant, and durable. Especially the areas where you’ll be planting your greens and placing the pots.
•There are different directions one can follow while waterproofing their rooftop - by installing plastic sheets, polymer coating, etc. The waterproofing membrane that you choose to install for your rooftop should be root and rot-resistant. You can even consult a professional to get an expert opinion.
Protection Layer
•Mechanical strength to your rooftop, moisture resistance, and temperature control are a few of the multiple benefits provided by the protection/insulation layer. In most cases, the insulation layer is made of polyurethane foam, PIR panels, or XPS extruded polystyrene boards. It is advised to install PIR panels for rooftop gardens as they have milled edge connections and grooves that allow the rainwater to swiftly pass through the drainage systems.
•Installing a protection layer for your rooftop will ensure the long life of your terrace garden and will keep all your worries away.
Drainage System
•The purpose of installing a drainage system is to remove the saturated water as quickly as possible. A proper drainage system should quickly discharge the excess water from the vegetation layer and rooftop into the drainage system.
The common drainage material includes - porous mats that can soak in the extra water, granular materials (gravels, stone chips, etc), lightweight plastic sheets, or polystyrene drainage modules.
Filtration Layer
To prevent clogging of the drainage system and keep the drainage layer separate from the plants, the filter layer is installed. It prevents the deposit of fine particles and keeps the drainage system functioning. Nonwoven or geotextile layers are ideal in most circumstances.
Vegetation Layer
The surface where you’ll grow your plants is called the vegetation layer. The growing medium (soil) will be prepared according to the plants that you choose to grow on your rooftop garden. Well-fertilized soil is best for rooftop gardening.
The thickness of soil will again depend on the choice of plants.
2. Plan the Garden Layout
● Map out your roof garden's design on graph paper:
Using graph or blueprint paper, make a rough sketch of your garden and plot out where you want to put plants and furniture. This will keep your rooftop organized as you begin building your garden. If you change your mind about something, you can always go back and redesign it.
•To keep the sketch to scale, decide beforehand how much space each square on the graphing paper will represent (e.g. 1 foot or meter). Approximate the overall size of your roof or measure it yourself, then base the drawing on your measurement.
Before you buy any plants, check with your local building codes to ensure that you’re allowed to plant on the roof. If you’re in an apartment or condo, check with the building owners or condo association to see if they’ll permit plants in the shared space. If you’re in a house, check with the homeowners’ association or look into local building codes to see if there are any restrictions on height or aesthetics.
3) Plan the planting
Plan for wind exposure: Wind is usually stronger on the rooftop than on ground level, especially if your building is several stories high. Too much wind can greatly damage or even kill plants. Structural windbreakers (like trellises) may be necessary if you notice strong winds on your roof.[6]
•You can monitor wind exposure with a weather vane, with a anemometer, or by standing on the roof and experiencing the weather for yourself.
•Because wind can dry out soil, your plants will need frequent watering.
There are multiple ways to get started with a rooftop garden. You can start with planting in simple containers - big & small, build raised beds, or cover your terrace with proper soil beds like traditional gardens. If you choose to build a fully planted green roof then you need to prepare your rooftop to prevent any potential damage to the building.
4.Find the right plants for your climate
You can grow almost anything and everything on your rooftop - from edible greens to beautiful flowers or a mix of both. The rooftop garden is sufficient to grow herbs, flowers, vegetables, and even dwarf trees. The plants you pick will depend on the temperature and other factors. If you’re a beginner, you can start with these easy-to-grow rooftop friendly vegetables:
●Buy plants native to your area
Plants originating from your state or climate will attract native fauna, like birds and butterflies. They will also adapt more easily to your garden than non-native plants. If harsh winds or heat hits, your plants will be much more likely to survive.
•Decorate the garden with bird- or butterfly feeders to attract more animals.
•Ask your local nursery which plants are native to your area for your options.
●Choose ornamental trees and shrubs.
Large plants will weigh down your roof and leave less room for other decor. Small, ornamental trees and shrubs do well in rooftop gardens when protected with windbreakers and placed in stable containers. Add 2 to 4 trees or shrubs at most to conserve space.
•Trim your trees' roots every few years to keep them at a manageable size.
•Examples of ornamental trees and shrubs include: Dogwood, Japanese Lilac Tree, Crabapple, Star Magnolia, and Jack Dwarf Flowering Pear.
●Choose seasonal Vegetables.
•Tomatoes
Tomato plants can thrive well in raised beds, pots, and other containers. They are easy to grow and need minimal maintenance.
•Onions
We use onions in almost all our dishes. They can be a great fit for your terrace gardens. Green onions are known to grow well in small containers.
•Potatoes
Potatoes are probably the easiest vegetables to grow on your terrace. All they need is a good space to grow and water to give you healthy produce.
•Capsicum
Known for its versatility and diverse usage, capsicum will make a great part of your terrace garden. With minimal care and lots of patience, you can grow capsicum in any planter.
•Beets
Beets thrive well in small places, thanks to their small size. Give your salads some beet touch by growing them in your terrace gardens.
●Shy away from large-leaf plants.
•Plants with large, supple leaves tend to get shredded by the high winds on rooftop gardens. They are also more likely to suffer winter-burn during the colder seasons. Smaller-leaved plants or pines thrive particularly well on rooftops.
●Look for drought and heat-tolerant plants.
The potentially intense wind and sunlight will make stronger plants a better candidate for rooftop gardens. Seedlings with these qualities will be more likely to survive the first year. Add shade or windbreakers if you plan to add more fragile plants.
•Ornamental grasses, honeysuckles, and magnolias all do well in hot, sunny weather.
•Make sure you regularly water your plants, even those that are drought-resistant.
5.Select the right roofers for your needs
●Evaluate your roof's loading capacity. The loading capacity is how much weight your roof structure can support. This will include your plants, plant containers, furniture, equipment, visitors, and weather loads like snow. Contact a structural engineer to discuss your roof garden and how much your roof can handle.[1]
- A structural engineer can also advise you in preliminary designs for your garden and how to work around possible obstructions (like chimneys). Business search sites like Yelp or Angie's List can help you find a local engineer.
- Make sure the engineer you contact is licensed (a legal requirement in many countries, particularly the United States).
6.Monitor your building's sun exposure
Depending on the plant, your garden will need as much as 6 to 8 hours of sunlight a day. Note sunlight patterns over a period of 1 or 2 weeks to make sure your roof's sunlight isn't obscured by other buildings.
•Try monitoring the sun in the morning, midday, and evening so you have an accurate sense of how exposure changed throughout the day.
7. Building the Garden
●Connect a hose that leads up to your rooftop.
Unless you receive enough rainfall for a storage system, using a hose to water your garden will be most space-effective. Check for a faucet or water line on the roof, and attach your hose.
•If you can find neither, use a watering can.
•The most reliable watering method involves setting up an automatic irrigation system.
●Add containers for your plants.
Refer to your garden map as you decide where to place containers. The ideal pots will be lightweight and deep enough to accommodate your plants' roots. Choose wooden or plastic containers over heavier materials, like terracotta.
●Place your seeds or seedlings in the containers.
Depending on your preference, you can raise your plants from seeds or transplant young plants from nurseries. Seedlings are usually stronger and pest-resistant, while seeds are much cheaper.
•Seedlings will fare better than seeds in cooler or windier climates.
•If desired, you can also start the seeds inside and transplant them later as seedlings.
●Install a trellis.
Windbreakers will keep your plants from drying out or getting damaged in harsh weather. Trellises are the most common option for rooftop gardens because they have holes, as solid windbreaks will knock over easily. Build or buy a trellis, and place it where it will block the wind's direction.
•Decorate your trellis with crawling ivy, sweet peas, climbing roses, or morning glory.
8.Water your plants often
The simplest way to water a rooftop garden is with a watering can. However, for larger rooftop gardens or to avoid climbing the stairs every morning with a watering can, you can set up more extensive watering systems. A popular option is setting up a rain barrel or cistern to catch rainwater in a watering can. You can also set up a drip system connected to a roof-level water spigot.
●Few points to keep in mind while watering:
•Water evenly around the plant for a balanced well-developed root system
Always watering at only one root point leads to one-sided root growth and thereby to poorer nutrient absorption in the soil. Therefore, always water around the plant and distribute in the entire irrigation area.
•Water late in the evening or early in the morning
When you water cooled soil in the evening or at night, less water evaporates than it would on hot soil during the day. And the plants can sufficiently supply themselves with water before the next day’s heat.
•Keep leaves dry to avoid diseases
Wet leaves become diseased leaves. Leaves that are made wet in the sun develop slight burn marks (burning glass effect of the water droplets). Kept wet overnight, leaf-mould diseases may result.
•Avoid waterlogging
Waterlogging suppresses the breathing air of the roots out of the soil – the root cells drown without oxygen.
9.Stick to a regular routine
You can make a routine for watering plants according to your schedule and make sure to use organic manure even if it is a kitchen waste or you can even buy Panchgavya and Organic Pest repellents to be used in your garden.
10.Decorating Your Garden
●Add lightweight furniture.
After you've placed all of your plants, refer to your garden map again as you bring in furniture. Choose lightweight furniture to avoid putting too much pressure on your roof. Foldable furniture, like lounge chairs, are especially lightweight and good for conserving space.
•To prevent the furniture from blowing away in heavy winds, secure it to immovable objects or store it when you’re not using it.
●Make use of open spaces.
Every inch of space in your rooftop garden needs to have a purpose. Instead of crowding the ground, decorate with height when possible. Utilizing vertical space will make your garden feel roomier, so plant climbing vines or hang flower containers on an adjacent wall if possible.
•Focusing too much on horizontal spaces will make your garden seem cramped.
●Pick a focal point.
Focal points are centerpieces that tie your garden together. Choosing a centerpiece will make your garden feel balanced and harmonious. A good focal point might be a larger plant (like a tree), an outdoor sofa, or a statue.
•To make your focal point stand out, avoid decorating with more than 1 or 2 larger plants/decorations. Too many focal points will distract from each other and seem overwhelming.
•Pick a trait (like 1 or several colors) to tie the decorations and focal point together so they don't clash.
●Choose multi-functional decorations.
Because you have a limited amount of space, make sure everything you add can serve many purposes. Look for chairs that can lay out into loveseats or expandable coffee tables. Find benches that can be used as storage for your foldable furniture. If a decoration does not have several purposes, consider whether the space it's taking up is worthwhile.
Advantages of a Rooftop Garden
Rooftop gardens have many advantages:
•Great for limited spaces: One of the main advantages of a rooftop garden is that it allows people to keep outdoor plants at home regardless of their backyard situation. Rooftop gardens are a popular urban garden choice for people who live in apartments and condos.
•Higher chances for sunlight: Rooftops gardens are more likely to receive full sun than on-the-ground gardens or houseplants since they are typically not shaded by trees or other buildings. This ample sunlight allows gardeners to select from a wider range of plants, including vegetable plants and sun-loving flowers.
•Pest-resistant: Many on-the-ground gardens can be targets for weeds and local wildlife like deer and rabbits, making growing certain plants difficult. Rooftop gardens grow plants out of reach of those animals and many weeds, limiting the kinds of pests that can affect their growth and reducing the need for weeding.
•Visual appeal: Rooftop gardens are a great way to add visual interest to roof space, turning a flat area into a more pleasant outdoor space with greenery for relaxing or entertaining. You can also add decking, a fire pit, a pergola, or decorative chairs to further beautify your rooftop garden design.
Disadvantages of a Rooftop Garden
Rooftop gardens also have a few disadvantages:
•Water difficulties: The biggest disadvantage of rooftop gardening is creating a sustainable watering system. Rooftop gardens are typically extra thirsty (due to high sun and winds) but are more difficult to water than other gardens because they’re farther from spigots and water lines and require a little more engineering to set up drip irrigation systems or a cistern.
•Adverse weather conditions: Rooftop gardens face more inclement weather conditions than other gardens, especially high winds and hot temperatures, so it’s important to get especially hardy plants for roofs that regularly experience adverse weather.
•Limited to containers: Rooftop gardens need to be in containers or raised garden beds since they’re up off the ground, which can limit the variety of plants gardeners can use. Container gardens can come at a higher cost than planting straight into the ground.
•Weight restrictions: Roofs can only handle a limited amount of extra weight. When planning a rooftop garden, you’ll want to ensure that your roof can handle the weight of the containers, soil, and water cistern, if you plan to install one.
Conclusion:
With the cost of living constantly on the rise, you've got to find ways to save money. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to do so. One way you can save money is by starting a rooftop garden.
Futhermore,There are many other reasons to install a rooftop garden, green space can add beauty to your home and also provide an excellent source of fresh vegetables and herbs. If you live in a dense urban area, a rooftop garden is the perfect way to grow fresh herbs that people can enjoy for meals and for tea and other beverages.
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