With the scarcity of green spaces in urban areas, rooftop gardens have become a popular trend. With some simple tips, you can transform your roof into a relaxing outdoor space and enjoy organic, fresh produce. Here are a few terrace garden design ideas to help you set up your own rooftop oasis.
What is a rooftop garden?
A terrace garden, or rooftop garden, is a landscaped green space on the top floor of residential or commercial buildings. Predominantly found in urban areas, these gardens are used to grow vegetables, fruits, and provide a play space or relaxing green area. Terrace garden designs often include paving, decking, seating, flower beds, or raised planters, cultivated gardens, or urban farms. Many buildings worldwide feature green roofs. The vegetation on these roofs can be either extensive or intensive. Extensive vegetation includes herbs, small plants, and shrubs, while intensive vegetation comprises larger shrubs and small trees.
Roof top garden benefits
A terrace garden offers numerous benefits. It provides a space for recreation and relaxation, with plants and trees having a soothing effect on the mind. Growing fruits and vegetables on a terrace is becoming popular among those who prefer organic produce, promoting urban farming. Additionally, plants serve as excellent air filters, converting carbon dioxide into oxygen and reducing air pollution. Terrace garden designs also help moderate noise, as both plants and soil absorb, reflect, and deflect sound waves, reducing noise pollution. They can efficiently use rainwater harvesting, provide shade, and cool the roof surface, which is particularly beneficial during hot weather. In winter, a green roof adds insulation, minimizing heat loss. Climate scientists suggest that terrace gardens can mitigate severe heat conditions in cities.
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Things to consider when setting up a rooftop garden
Check the load capacity
Before setting up a terrace garden, it's crucial to check the rooftop load capacity. Soil and pots are heavy, and their weight increases as plants grow.
Waterproof the roof and ensure it has a good drainage system and slope
Before planning a terrace garden design, ensure the roof is waterproof and free of leaks. Consult an expert to apply appropriate coverage techniques or chemical waterproofing solutions to prevent water seepage, which can cause dampness and damage.
Proper drainage of planters is essential for plant growth. Placing them on brick stands is recommended, and a mosaic of broken China tiles can provide additional protection against seepage. Installing concrete bedding to create a slope helps divert water towards drains, ensuring an effective drainage system during heavy rainfall.
Windbreaks on rooftop gardens
In windy areas, incorporating windbreaks is crucial to protect plants in your terrace garden design. A trellis or perimeter wall can effectively block strong gusts and help anchor plants in the soil. Additionally, using glass as a balustrade and wind buffer not only shields your plants but also provides an uninterrupted view, enhancing the overall aesthetics of your rooftop garden.
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Rooftop garden safety
Safety is paramount in any terrace garden design. Avoid hanging anything over the edges or placing pots on ledges unless they are firmly secured. Always ensure the edges of the terrace garden are barricaded. Additionally, the floor surface should be non-slippery to prevent accidents.
Rooftop garden design
Creating a green outdoor space on your rooftop requires meticulous planning. Start by designing a layout for your terrace garden and selecting the types of plants to grow. Consider that some plants need more sunlight while others thrive in the shade. When choosing plants, take into account the weather conditions on your rooftop and select plants that can adapt accordingly. Opt for a diverse range of plants, including herbs, shrubs, creepers, and climbers, in various sizes, both flowering and non-flowering.
If you plan to plant directly on the terrace, install drainage cells (polyethylene tiles that create a permanent, non-clogging gap between the concrete slab and soil). Use a geotextile membrane before adding soil to prevent water damage.
Avoid placing too many pots in the center of the roof, as this can add excessive weight. Instead, secure pots on the surrounding walls or place them on shelves, as the walls can better sustain their weight.
Consider raised beds for planting to minimize leakage issues. Enhance your terrace garden design with lights, fountains, statues, and aesthetically arranged colorful plant containers for a visually appealing setup.
Rooftop vegetable garden using urban farming
Growing your own vegetables not only offers delicious flavors but also promotes health benefits due to their chemical-free nature. Start with simple-to-grow plants like perennial fruit trees and leafy greens. Intersperse herbs such as sweet basil, tulsi, mint, mustard, sesame, and fennel among your vegetables in the garden bed for a well-rounded and productive terrace garden design.
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When planning your terrace garden design, focus on cultivating plants that thrive in your local climate and need minimal upkeep. Consider growing a variety of vegetables and fruits such as radish, spinach, fenugreek, tomatoes, curry leaves, coriander, green chilies, cucumber, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, mango, banana, custard apple, pomegranate, pineapple, papaya, cabbage, okra, and more. This selection ensures your rooftop garden will flourish with healthy produce while requiring less maintenance.
Flowers on the rooftop garden
In your terrace garden design, flowers bring a calming influence and elevate your spirits through their vibrant colors and delightful fragrance. Consider planting varieties like hibiscus, frangipani, marigold, periwinkle, rose, and others to introduce a splash of color and soothing scents to your rooftop oasis.
You can grow flowers in garden boxes and hang them along the railings.
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In your terrace garden design, cultivate flowers that attract native bees and beneficial insects. Plants such as bougainvillea, jasmine, gardenia, clematis, rangoon creeper, hibiscus, rose, oleander, and plumerias can thrive in planters. For butterflies, consider growing clitoria, parijat, adenium, lantana, vincas, and honeysuckle to enhance your garden's biodiversity and charm.
Rooftop garden seating
In your terrace garden design, opt for lightweight waterproof furniture that offers comfort. Enhance the comfort of chairs and lounges by adding cushions and pillows. Choose outdoor fabrics known for their durability against fading and mildew. Folding chairs made from plastic, wood, or metal are versatile options suitable for both large and small outdoor spaces, as they can be easily relocated or stored. If space allows, consider including comfortable sofas or rattan chairs to create a cozy seating area in your rooftop garden.
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Ans 1. A good solution is to mix high general lighting (wall lamps or garden lights) with more targeted lighting to identify any obstacles and enhance the most beautiful areas of the terrace. Last but not least, don't forget the low lighting (with recessed floor spotlights), which serves to create a relaxed atmosphere.
Ans 2. Lilac, photinia, common laurer, privet and pittosporum are the perfect plants for this purpose; for an atmosphere evoking exotic and tropical scenarios, the best solutions are monstera and bamboo.
Ans 3. Size your outdoor space for an ideal terrace size: A terrace should be proportional to the surrounding space to create a visual balance. Also consider the view and surrounding landscape. If you have an unobstructed view that you want to highlight, a wider terrace with fewer visual obstacles may be preferable.
Ans 4. If your client wants to create an epic rooftop terrace dining environment, take the design up a notch, place a row of candles on the sidelines, bring a silver dining table, metal chairs, a calming glass water feature, and make halos around potted trees.
Ans 5. Disadvantages Of Terrace Gardening Maintenance: Terrace gardens require regular watering and maintenance, which can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. Limited variety: A terrace garden may have limited space for a variety of plants, which may limit the types of plants that can be grown.