According to many landscape designers, a roof garden is the ultimate space optimization if you live in an urban area. You can create a garden on your roof without having to create or purchase additional space. If you add greenery to a beautiful roof terrace, you will completely forget that you live in the city. Julie Farris is an expert in this field and the founder of XS Space and in this post we will introduce you to her project “Brooklyn Rooftop Garden” which will give you the basic knowledge. The landscape designer creates a magical rooftop garden for her family at their home in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, and we've rounded up her top tips for planting an outdoor space.
Practical tips from the experts for greening a roof terrace
First, make sure your roof can support the weight of your planned garden. Gardens can weigh a lot because soil is heavy, and especially wet soil can be even heavier. So if you have onemeaningful roof constructionAccording to Julie, you need to hire a good structural engineer beforehand. The potential risks to your home from roof damage are far greater than the cost of a consultation. Farris says the plant palette for her rooftop garden was inspired by Dutch designer Piet Oudolf's perennials in Manhattan's High Line Park.
An engineer will make calculations for different types of loads, including the weight of snow, depending on your location. If you are adding greenery to your roof terrace, you will probably need a steel insert. The costs can vary greatly depending on the condition of the roof, the size and extent of the garden. The only way to plan for this in advance is with a stamped review from an expert.
Another tip would be to recognize the difference between a green roof and a roof garden. A green roof is partially or completely covered with vegetation, while the roof garden design is slightly different. Green roofs are ideal for larger areas and can help insulate your home, reduce water runoff, filter pollutants and freshen the air. But remember that the typical green is not intended to be walked on.
Regardless of whether a roof garden has flower beds or not, you and your guests can enjoy an outdoor area in other ways. Additionally, a law in New York City limits the use of combustible materials such as wood decking to 20 percent of the total area of a roof. The restriction is forcing residents to become more creative with building materials and overall design.
Consider the climate
If there is notall buildings in your areathe roof garden will be exposed to 360 degrees 365 days a year. For this reason, you need a hardscape and plants that can handle a lot of sun, wind, frost, and other weather conditions. This means getting sturdy materials and plants that are drought tolerant and sun loving.
Few people feel like they have to go to the nursery every weekend to buy replacement plantings. So make sure the planting you choose can withstand harsh conditions. For any large project, you will need to hire a professional to design it, as well as obtain local permits to carry out the work. Remember that you don't necessarily have to have a lot of space to create a spacious seating area. On a three by three meter wide veranda, for example, a dining table for eight people can be placed together with an L-shaped sofaArmchairs and a coffee tableto fit.
Intend to use the space
How will you and your family use the roof garden? The context, i.e. the specific location conditions in combination with your preferences, determines the core of the design. If you love gardening, you'll want to incorporate more plant beds. However, if you don't have the time or affinity for it, try creating more hard space with select planted areas.
Do you have children or a dog? If so, then you will definitely provide a play area if of course you have enough space for this purpose. If your plan is to be in the garden during the day, you will probably need to provide sun protection. Very few umbrellas can handle the wind conditions on a roof, so a permanent element such as a trellis is recommended.
The more logistical details you work out in advance, the better you will be able to green and design your roof terrace. Also, ask yourself how many people you typically have at dinner. Also, how are you going to get the dishes on and off? Do you want to install a container to store utensils?
If you have children, it is best to place your roof garden well away from the edge of the roof. You can also demarcate the garden area with iron grilles and place large planters in front of them. Local building regulations should usually specify the minimum size for iron grilles. Note that there should be no horizontal structural members that children could climb on.
Before you begin construction, you will need to get your materials onto the roof. You can lift wood and earth with a crane, which is not uncommon. This is an ideal strategy if you are building a roof garden on a house that is not new. You don't have to consider the work involved in moving materials around your home up multiple flights of stairs.
Get the right materials and soil
First, start with a high-quality coating that you seal well. Never put anything sharp on it because if you puncture it and cause it to leak, you can consequently damage your entire roof. A root barrier is another must if you want to plant directly on the roof surface. If you don't drain the soil properly, the plants most likely won't survive.
To lighten the load and aid drainage, add a 5 centimeter thick layer of Styrofoam on top. For planters, thin insulating panels on the sides and bottom help with frost. The most important thing when using pavers is to raise them slightly from the roof surface to allow water to flow underneath.
Finally, of course, you also need to buy soil that is specifically designed for a roof garden. This basically consists of slate, compost, light gravel and sand. Creating your own substrate can be difficult and, above all, expensive if you are planting a roof terrace. If your roof is easily accessible, you'll use it more often, according to Julie. And if you're building a bulkhead, make sure the door is at least two feet taller than your tallest family member.
Make it easy to get to the roof. You can use spiral stairs to save space. However, these can be dizzying and annoying to carry and for small children. In addition, in most cases they look unattractive and the expert prefers a conventional staircase, even if it takes up more space. An important advice for drainage: Make sure that the drain pipe for water drainage is not blocked, overflowed and is perfectly sealed.
Choose the right irrigation system
Most roof gardens should be watered twice daily during the growing season. If you can't do that, you'll need to install an automated irrigation system. You can find out which models and variants are suitable for this at your local hardware store. The best way to be on the safe side is to hire a service provider who specializes in this area. Farris also used a mix of lighting and sconces for her outdoor kitchen.
Choose quality lighting
Don't skimp on your lighting choices if you plan to use your roof garden in the evening and at night. By starting from scratch, you can make your lighting system a significant and functional design element. To do this, you could install recessed lights along a walkway or a wall-mounted light outside the door or above the grill. If you're upgrading and don't want to hire an electrician, you can consider solar lighting. However, be warned that you will have to spend a bit more to get solar lamps that are both stylish and functional. A simple and romantic alternative would be lanterns with candles. These can provide just the right light for entertaining and are also a great accent if you're looking to landscape and landscape a rooftop patio.
Choose plants carefully
Proven perennials in Brooklyn include grasses such as elephant grass and golden balm, bertram's weed, diamond grass, clematis, clematis, clematis, phlox, aniseed, catnip, thyme, bent grass, lavender, tea roses, St. John's wort and amsonia. To find out which plant varieties are suitable for your area, ask your neighbors and the experts at your nearest nursery. If you want to create habitat for birds or attract pollinators, contact your local nursery to find out what works best in your area. Bees are drawn to many native perennials that produce pollen and nectar. Some other good additions include fieldstone thyme, fall-blooming clematis, and honeysuckle.
Avoid plants that prefer moist acidic soil. They won't thrive on a roof. Varieties that require a lot of shade or fruits are also not recommended as they can create clutter. Basically, most annual plants require too much effort and are therefore not recommended if you want to green a low-maintenance roof terrace.
Plants can also serve as privacy screens if they have some transparency. They can be ideal for a roof garden because they provide privacy without blocking the view. Tall grasses such as diamond grass and elephant grass, which move gracefully in the wind, are ideal for the rooftop climate. Shrub roses, for example, are also a good choice.
Consider maintenance and garden care
Julie deliberately designed a low-maintenance roof garden for her family. She has hired someone to come and clean up two or three times a year. Planting in spring depends on what you didn't manage to do in winter. Normally this is about 10 percent of the plants. You can also remove leaves and other debris from the stones and wash and polish the wood. So if you want to green or design a new roof terrace, we hope that this guide can help you.
