Rooftop gardens are creating green areas in the middle of cities. They offer lots of benefits, which include making buildings look more attractive, promoting sustainability or improving air quality. In this article, I wanted to share with you some creative ideas and helpful tips about how to build a good looking and functional rooftop garden not just attractive but practical and sustainable as well.
Understanding Rooftop Gardens
There are unique challenges and opportunities to rooftop gardens. Here are some key considerations:
- Structural Integrity: Make sure the rooftop garden won’t add so much weight than the building was built for.
- Exposure: Strong winds, direct sunlight and varying weather conditions over rooftops will determine plant choice and related forms of garden design.
- Accessibility: Access points and available space permit maintaining a rooftop garden.
- Waterproofing and Drainage: For healthy growth of the plants you really need proper waterproofing and drainage systems.
Innovative Ideas for Rooftop Gardens
Follow these creative ideas to build and appreciate your rooftop garden. Also, check out our example project here.
Green Roofs
Growing vegetation on the roof surface is a green roof solution that is a sustainable one. They insulate, reduce rain water runoff, and improve the quality of the air. Lightweight, low maintenance sedums and grasses are examples of the type of plants used on extensive green roofs while intensive green roofs can support a greater variety of plants, including shrubs and small trees. Green building design and urban sustainability revolves around this concept.
Container Gardening
Containers are versatile and mobile and are an ideal choice for rooftop gardens. You can have a diverse and dynamic garden by using a variety of pots, planters and boxes. Depth and dimension are achieved by using containers of differing heights and sizes. Make sure they have good drainage, and they are either made from lightweight material, such as plastic, fibreglass, or a terracotta. Urban gardening, rooftop planting and container gardening are great suits for urban farming!
Herb and Vegetable Gardens
Rooftop gardening of herbs and vegetables is a practical and rewarding concept. On the other hand, herbs that love containers, such as basil, rosemary, and mint, can give fresh cooking ingredients. Rooftop gardens can also be filled with vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers and lettuce. Linking the urban agriculture and sustainable living together encourages rooftop farming.
Add Flowers for Colour
Flowering plants will bring vibrant colours to your rooftop garden. Pick varieties that have an aptitude for planting in containers and who have the lighting conditions of your rooftop. Bright, sunny spots are a great place for geraniums, petunias, marigolds, and pansies. If your garden is shaded, choose impatiens, begonias, or fuchsias. Your rooftop space can also sport colourful flowers which can really increase the garden aesthetics.
Make Your Home A Relaxing Seating Area
Add a place to sit to your rooftop garden by means of a seating area. Picking sturdy, weatherproof furniture that sits comfortably into available space. Make cushions and throws to add a bit of comfort and style. Plant around the seating area to make a comfortable, green spot you can come and take a break from your busy lifestyle. This concept too fits very well with outdoor living spaces and turns your rooftop into a hospitable part of your home.
Make use of Multi Functional Furniture
Multi-functional furniture will save you space in your rooftop garden. Store gardening stuff in benches that were attached with built in storage. Go for the choice of tables that can be used as planters or storage. Furniture that serves multi functions helps you keep your rooftop organised and make the most of space that’s available.
Incorporate Water Features
A little water feature on your rooftop garden will make it more soothing. So think of a small pond or a compartmentalised water feature in a container or a miniature fountain. This sound of running water creates a calming effect, and draws the birds and other wildlife to your garden. Adding water features to your rooftop landscaping can also provide much needed rain storage and make your garden feel like a mini oasis.
Railings and Balustrades
Use planters and pots you hang on rooftop railings and balustrades. Railing planters are a good way to grow trailing plants like nasturtiums, sweet potatoes or strawberries. Besides that it also maximises the space and also introduces green at various levels resulting into a layered effect. Placing railing planters as vertical elements can add to the green space of your rooftop.
Choose Low-Maintenance Plants
Rooftop gardens go great with succulents, cacti, and air plants because they’re all drought tolerant and are more comfortable living in containers. For your plants to always be soaked, consider using self watering pots or a drip irrigation system. Not all plants require a lot of maintenance and they make great plants for green spaces in urban areas where time and budget for maintenance of the space may be lacking.
Incorporate Lighting
Create a more creative lighting for your rooftop garden. Instead, try using solar powered fairy lights, lanterns or LED strip lighting to light your garden at night. Not only does rooftop garden lighting make it more inviting, but it also keeps it usable into the evening hours. Also, lighting it properly can highlight your rooftop garden’s outdoor decor.
Create a Theme
Make your rooftop garden flow around a theme and work as a cohesive and stylish look. Select from a colour scheme of only white flowers and green foliage, or a tropical theme and bright exotic flora. Themed gardens are fun and make your rooftop an instant standout.
Sustainable Practices
Include sustainable practises within your rooftop garden. Grow native plants that are adapted to your local climate, using organic soil & fertilisers that will return trapped nutrients to the soil as they decay, collect rainwater for irrigation. Sustainable gardening helps reduce your environmental footprint and will also create a healthier garden. This allows eco friendly roofs and is overall sustainable.
Rooftop Garden Maintenance Tips
Keeping a rooftop garden beautiful and thriving relies on maintaining a rooftop garden. Here are some tips for keeping your garden in top condition:
- Regular Watering: Make sure your plants get proper water, when the weather is hot.
- Fertilising: Use appropriate fertilisers to feed your plants so that they can grow healthy. The best results will occur if you use organic or slow release fertilisers.
- Pruning and Deadheading: Prune plants regularly to maintain shape and pull leaves when they’re dead or yellow. If you cut flowering plants close to the ground, this encourages more blooms.
- Pest Control: Keep an eye out for pest and disease damage on your plants. Protect your garden using natural or organic pest control methods.
- Cleaning and Tidying: A good way to keep your rooftop garden tidy is to remove debris and dead leaves as you go.
- Inspecting Structural Elements: It’s good to check the structural integrity of the garden as much as you can, ensuring waterproofing and drainage systems remain in good working order insuring continuation and safety of the living area.
Our Thoughts, At Space Landscape Designs
Urban areas can own green spaces by creating them on rooftops. With the right design and care of your rooftop garden, you can have the luxury of separating yourself from nature above your home. No matter how small or large your rooftop, you can actually use it to create a beautiful and functional garden.
Want to know more about having a rooftop garden added to your living space? Contact Space Landscape Designs for expert advice and a personalised quote. If you need help designing and building the perfect rooftop garden for your needs, then our team of professionals will help you. Today get in touch with us to start your journey to creating an amazing and eco-friendly rooftop garden.
