Planning a Roof Garden Design in Urban Places

Sep 16
17:18

2021

Maria A Williams

Maria A Williams

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Planting an outdoor garden can be pretty challenging for those who live in urban areas. Why? Because there is usually not enough space. In such a situation, the rooftop of your building is the perfect place to set up your garden.

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With some creative thinking and practical know-how,Planning a Roof Garden Design in Urban Places Articles you can transform your rooftop into a stunning outdoor space for relaxation. Following are some tips on how to start your rooftop garden:

Check the Load-Bearing Capacity of Your Roof

First of all, determine whether your roof is strong enough to handle the load of a rooftop garden, including the weight of the soil, plants, waterproofing systems, and seating. Next, it is recommended that you consult a roof garden design company to accurately examine your structural system and select the best location for your rooftop garden.

Plan for Drainage and Other Pre-Treatments

For your rooftop garden, you will need to plan for the drainage points and ensure there is no stagnation of water. Water seepage and stagnation can cause cracks in the roof and long-term structural damage. To prevent this, treat your roof with a layer of screed concrete and then use a chemical compound, e.g. bitumen, to waterproof it. For efficient, proper drainage, use a layer of PVC drainage cells and cover them with geotextile fabric.

Get the Right Soil Mixture

The soil mixture for rooftop gardens is slightly different as compared to the one used for outdoor gardens, as the soil needs to be lightweight and promote drainage. The soil should be a mix of fertilizers, soil conditioners, and garden soil. You can use soil conditioners to help your soil mixture retain nutrients and enhance water retention.

Choose the Right Type of Plants

There should be a balanced mix of shrubs, ground cover, and flowering plants for your rooftop garden. Common choices for warm climates include yellow trumpet bush, bird of paradise, plumbago, and areca palm. If your roof can bear the weight, you can choose certain medium-sized tropical trees, e.g. the Ashoka tree.

Plan the Seating and Decorations

Incorporate seating as well as the aesthetic elements in appropriate places to maximize your rooftop garden experience. For warm climates, dressed stone seats are recommended. For cooler climates, seats made from materials like acacia wood are suitable. You can use decorate garden elements and ornaments to add an aesthetic touch to your rooftop garden. Bird feeders, stone urns, and birdbaths are some popular options.

Prioritize Maintenance

Prioritizing maintenance is a crucial aspect of planning a rooftop garden. Your garden will need an irrigation system for proper everyday maintenance. If you have a small garden, you can choose basically any simple sprinkler system. For larger gardens, a combination of a drip and a sprinkler system is recommended.

Plan for an easy access point to the rooftop so that everyday maintenance and care is not an issue. Also, to minimize maintenance, it is highly recommended that you avoid planting too many lawn grasses that require lots of mowing and watering.

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