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Planning my Rooftop Garden

A garden that is placed on a roof is called a rooftop garden. The roof top may be a house, an office building, a garage, shed or any other structure that has a appropriate surface and is strong enough to take the further weight.

If you're planning a green roof garden, you should consult a structural engineer to ensure that the roof is waterproof and can handle extra weight of planters, moist soil mixes, decking, furnishings and people.

Pay attention to the purpose of the space. If you are looking to grow a container or two of herbs and vegetables that is one thing; if you are planning a community garden that is another. Or, are you designing an outdoor space for relaxation and entertaining that incorporates flowers, shrubs and trees into the design? I have even seen an orchard on a roof!

How much time do you want to devote to gardening? If your time is limited you may want to keep the garden element of the design small, you can always add later, enough so that you can give the plants the attention they deserve.

It is sometimes troublesome to be successful against the elements of wind and sun. You must have a rooftop water supply, outdoor electrical outlet and storage space for tool and supplies. You will require loads of water - find out how and where the roof drains.

Popular materials for containers are plastic, terracotta or wood. Select resilient plants that will cope with a range of conditions. It will commonly be sunny, hot, dry and windy during the growing season.

Choose plants that are one or two zones hardier than your climatic zone if you're going to grow plants such as shrubs or small trees or perennials in containers. For example, if you're in Zone 5, choose woody plants that are hardy to Zone 3 or 4.

Some lath-type structures will give some shade. You can use vine-covered trellising as a wind-break or privacy screen. If you are adding a trellis or screen, make sure it's properly supported.

Choose drought tolerant plants as they will stand up against sun and wind. If a plant has silver or grey-green leaves then it will reflect the coarse rays of the sun. If plants have fine hair on their leaves or stems then moisture can gather around the plant tissues.

A green roof top garden is an ideal place to grow native perennials. They will be able to handle the ecosystem and you will be helping maintain the native plant population. They might even encourage visits from native birds and butterflies.

Article Source: GardenGap.com

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To look at several great picture examples of green roofs or for extra help and advice about roofing solutions, visit the ICB website.