Creating a rooftop garden can seem like a daunting task but with the right amount of planning and effort, it can be magical. Rooftop gardens are becoming more popular as the need for green spaces in our cities increase. The following tips should ensure your garden is healthy and beautiful while requiring little maintenance.
Making the space open
Most rooftop gardens are designed with privacy in mind hence most gardeners will ensure that the garden is as obstructed to the outside world as possible. However, that may not be prudent. In order to enhance the health and beauty of your garden, an open space is much better. Plants need air and sunlight to flourish. An open space ensures your garden acquires the necessary elements. You can use glass, rails or hedges as the border of your garden for an element of privacy.
Utilise vertical spaces
A typical rooftop garden will have the plants on the rooftop floor. Since you will have to plant your garden on soil for better plants, the floor makes sense because it can hold more soil than the walls. However, your walls do not have to remain bare. In fact, there are plants ideally suited for growth in vertical spaces. Embellishing your garden’s vertical spaces allows you to grow certain plants that would be cumbersome to grow on the floor and gives your garden an added dimension.
Use raised beds
Raised beds for your plants adjacent to the wall are a great idea if your roof can support it. Ideally, the beds would be raised to about two or three feet and made as wide as possible. Raised beds allow you to grow larger plants and greater control over the growth of your plants’ roots. You should, however, ensure you use a waterproof membrane to ensure that the roots do not end up damaging the floor. Raised beds increase the amount of soil every square inch of your roof can hold and can be a great factor in how you design your garden.
Ensure plant diversity
One of the best aspects of creating a rooftop garden is experimentation. You should not only plant the types of plants you can know how to grow but push yourself to add variety. Mix tall plants with short plants, shrubbery and flowers with trees and grasses. Diversity in your garden not only makes it look great but will contribute to the health of your garden as well. Experiment with different colours to ensure your garden is aesthetically pleasing as possible.
Create a focal point
As far as garden aesthetics go, a focal point in your garden really helps to tie everything together. The focal point can be anything you decide it to be so get creative. It can be a small rocky waterfall, a large tree or a beautiful arrangement of exotic plants. It will be the main point of attraction in your garden and all other designing will be done to compliment it. A focal point is especially useful for first time gardeners as it will help them with planning and design.
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