Indoor Gardening - Part V

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Do you live in a city? If you answer in affirmative to this question then you have all the reasons to go rooftop gardening.

Rooftop gardening is quite challenging, but the idea is not new. The hanging gardens of Babylon, for example, were terraced gardens arranged in set pyramids over elaborate rooms. Europeans too have been enjoying rooftop gardens for centuries now.

So, why should we opt for rooftop gardening?

There are many good reasons for rooftop gardening. The first and foremost reason is that rooftop gardening increases access to private outdoor green space, be it at home or at work, within the urban environment. Secondly, rooftop gardens act as ecological oasis in the cities and help in improving the air quality by reducing air pollution and dust. Thirdly, rooftop gardens insulate buildings against extreme heat and cold.

These are not all. The roof gardens can play a major role in supporting urban food production. They also help in saving rainwater as the rainwater would otherwise rundown to mix with the sewage. Lastly, roof gardens act as natural habitat for birds and insects and provide them shelter.

Now that you know the benefits of rooftop gardening, you would also like to know how to have one.

Before you begin, there are certain things to be looked into.

• Make sure the roof on which the gardening is to be done is strong enough to carry the weight of the garden.
• The roof or the terrace should be sloped and have an effective drainage system.
• Also make sure that there is no leakage of water in your roof garden.

Structuring your roof garden

Plan: Unlike any type of garden, roof garden also needs a detailed plan. Roof gardens look good if they are proportionate with lawns, shrubs, ground covers and small trees. If you wish, you can also incorporate the concept of water garden or rock garden or create a shady structure on your roof garden.

Plants: Once you have outlined a detailed plan for your roof garden, the next step is the choosing of plants. Fiber-rooted plants are preferred for roof gardening than plants with tap root system. Tap-rooted plants may grow through the building, thereby causing harm to it. Also note that the plants on the roof are exposed to severe heat or direct sunlight and also strong winds. Hence select plants that can withstand wind and also retain water.