As years pass by, more and more places become cities. One of the major attributes of a city is having big buildings. Even residences today are located in tall skyscrapers. Apartments and condos are built in those skyscrapers that are as high as 163 floors! While living in the city is fun because of the developments, it prevents us from enjoying the beautiful views of nature. Creative interior designers and architects have thought of a solution to this problem – rooftop urban gardening! Buildings and houses that are built these days are designed with rooftops that are ready for urban gardening. There are several famous rooftop gardens around the world like Kensington Roof Gardens in London and Acros Fukuoka Building in Japan. So, if your house was built with a roof deck for gardening or your apartment has it, it is high time to make your own rooftop garden!
A roof of any size is a perfect space to accommodate a terrace and a garden. If you don’t have a roof deck built for this, you can bring up some pots in your balcony and plant some tomatoes, eggplants, celery, carrots, and some leafy vegetables and leafy ornamental plants for beautification. Plants offer many health benefits. They absorb toxins and purify the air. They also boost positive energy and promote your health and well-being. You can read this article or more information about the benefits of indoor plants.
There are also resorts, hotels, and malls in the Philippines that have rooftop gardens like Shangri-la, SM malls, Trinoma, many other buildings, parks, and private residences. You, too, can transform your rooftop, terrace, or balcony into a lush garden.
Rooftop gardens can be a refuge for those seeking a serene and peaceful place to detoxify and destress. Gardening on a rooftop has a number of benefits—including privacy, no dangerous animals, and good sun—but there are several things to consider about urban gardening before you start planting. If you have decided to create your own rooftop garden, here’s how to get started.
- They make use of unused or underused space
- A garden beautifies an eyesore
- They can provide privacy
- They can be extremely environmentally friendly
- There is usually good sun exposure
- No deer or dangerous animals
Options for Your Rooftop Garden
There are many options you can choose from when creating your rooftop garden. There are rooftops that are designed to accommodate fully planted roofs with at least 1 meter high of soil. In this case, the plants are in the ground and not just in pots. However, it may be too costly for homeowners because the structure and foundation of the house must be strong enough and built to support this kind of rooftop. These are only good for buildings and parks. There are exceptional residences though that have fully planted roofs.
The easiest and most personal approach to rooftop gardening is the use of big pots, containers, and raised beds. You can create any style of rooftop garden with container-grown plants, from a few simple herb plants to a formal, elegant potager. Containers are perfect for rooftop gardens because they are light, portable, flexible, and affordable.
1. Vertical Rooftop Gardens
A vertical garden is a technique used to grow plants on a vertically suspended panel by using hydroponics, which is a method of growing plants without soil, by using mineral nutrient solutions in a water solvent. These unique structures can either be freestanding or attached to a wall. A vertical rooftop garden is perfect for two reasons: it saves space and it provides a beautiful cover from the prying eyes of your neighbors.
2. Lawn Rooftop Gardens
To create a lawn garden, the rooftop must be fully covered with soil . Twenty centimeters high is enough for the decorative grass to grow. Your rooftop would look so savvy and will provide a relaxing sanctuary! It is quite difficult to maintain a lawn rooftop though but it is worth it. You can spread a mat over it and lie down at sunrise and enjoy the early morning sunshine or watch the stars at night!
3. Veggie Rooftop Gardens
If you have enough space, plant edible plants in raised beds or plant boxes. Imagine having one plot of pechay, one bed of lettuce, one bed for celery and lettuce while you also have flowering plants on the other side. For a more savvy garden, build a greenhouse to protect it from excessive sunlight that can destroy the plants and from pests.
4. Potted Rooftop Gardens
Bring up pots of different sizes and plant them with vegetables or flowering plants. Potted rooftop garden is the most affordable to make. You don’t need to cover the rooftop with soil because you will just be planting in the pots. If you have a large rooftop you can divide it into several gardens. One side for potted plants, another for raised beds planted with vegetables, and make a portion for your lawn. If you have this rooftop garden at home, you won’t need to go out for your selfies. You can transform your home into the most wonderful venue for your gardening and selfie moments!
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