A rooftop garden is located on top of a building or other structure to grow food in your backyard at home. There are many different ways to go about this and many different things to consider when you’re getting started. You might be wondering what kind of supplies you need, how to plant things on your roof, how to ensure a productive garden, and how to make the most of the space you have available.
What You Need
In general, you need the same things to grow a garden on your rooftop as you would need to grow a garden anywhere else. You’ll need soil, seeds, plants, and watering devices. On top of that list are a few considerations that are specific to rooftop gardening:
- Access: Rooftop gardens are generally planted outside of the primary living space, and so there needs to be easy access to the garden, whether it’s for planting, harvesting, or other maintenance.
- Light: You’ll need to account for sun exposure when you plan your garden. Most plants need at least six hours of sunlight per day to grow and thrive. If you have a lot of shade from nearby structures or trees, then you might want to consider an artificial lighting system.
- Watering: Generally, rooftop gardens receive very little rainfall. Most plants require at least an inch or two of rain per week. Fortunately, there are several types of irrigation systems that can be used to supplement precipitation.
- Weather: The weather on a roof can be pretty extreme. Strong winds are a common occurrence, not to mention heat and cold. You’ll need to make sure your plants can handle the conditions.
Getting Started
There are two basic ways to build your rooftop garden: you can start with a pre-existing planter structure or build your structure from scratch.
- If you’re buying a pre-existing planter, find a structure with multiple tiers, each of which has a planting area. This will give you more growing space.
- Building from scratch is typically more expensive and takes more time. If you have 10-feet of vertical space and are willing to tackle it yourself, you could build a raised bed for your garden and construct some planters on top of it. Be sure to leave room for walking around your structure.
Picking Plants
The selection of plants you’ll want to use depends on what you’re going to be using them for. Some rooftop gardens are purely ornamental and meant for aesthetic appeal. Others have an edible component, and their purpose is food production. If you’re planning a garden with food production in mind, you need plants known to be successful in that environment. A good rule of thumb is to find out what plants grow best in your area and stick with those.
Growing Your Garden
Once your plants are in place, you need to care for them. Check on them regularly, whether it’s for watering or removing pests. You may even want to use a drip irrigation system for some degree of automation. Rooftop gardens can be tough to keep up with because of the nature of the space available and the climate conditions that come with them. Be sure you are prepared for this challenge before you get started.
A rooftop garden is a beautiful way to supplement your diet. It can also be a beautiful addition to any home. With the correct information and preparation, you can create a garden that is both practical and pleasing.
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