Friday, October 2, 2009

How to Design a Roof Garden

If the garden space was overlooked from almost every direction, providing no privacy, and, furthermore, an unattractive office block was positioned in the prime spot, spoiling what could otherwise have been a stunning view over the city. Another problem was that the roof is also a fire escape route for neighboring apartments, so gates would have to be inserted and the escape route kept free.

As structural information was lacking and the roof was over a block of garages, any weight was positioned along the edges of the roof and over the main structural walls. If the roof area was flat and therefore rather uninteresting, you can use raised beds and form a corner plant grouping so that the tallest shrubs and trees would form the centerpiece.

You can pick natural honey-colored pressure-treated New Zealand pine for the decking as it is light but tough and has a special grooved non-slip surface. The diamond- shaped trellis used for the screen is of a similar coloring to the flooring and looks decorative.

Raised beds are built of railway sleepers and are set at a range of heights so that a waterfall of planting has been created as viewed from the terrace lightweight containers have been chosen in a wide range of sizes and are grouped to complete the lush planting effect.

The pond is sited in the corner of the roof space and backed by the highest planting area. It is deliberately shallow to keep down the weight but pebbles in a range of sizes make it visually interesting at all times of the year.

There is an automatic watering system operated by a timer switch so that the plants are always cared for even if you are away

Each plant picked for inclusion in this garden had to fulfill many requirements so that a minimum of planting would produce a maximum effect. Those growing in the beds provide a year-round back-drop, while most of the seasonal planting is grown in pots that are easily removed and replaced with the next season's arrangements

Petunias are ideal pot plants to and extra summer color wherever it is needed. They are easy to grow, reward you with a long flowering season, and come in almost every color imaginable and in both upright and trailing varieties. Grow petunias in light, well-drained soil in full sun. They need some protection from wind and are here placed in pots in positions protected by larger shrubs.

Grandiflora petunias are the ones with very large flowers; multiflora petunias are bushier with smaller flowers and are more tolerant of wet weather

With a wide range of shapes available, trellis need not be used only along the top of a fence to give additional height. A simple design can be created that makes an attractive backdrop, whether clothed in climbers or deliberately led free of foliage. Pre-constructed arches and arbors are also available and a pergola can be made using a range of shapes and heights. The trellis boundary around the roof space consists of straight panels that have been topped with a stylish scalloped edge. while each post is finished with an ornate finial.

Posted by at