Great Rooftop Garden Ideas

A roof becomes a very different environment when a garden is planned on it. In fact, you will probably want to get professional help before getting started on a project like this.

Benefits of building a rooftop garden:

• Reduce your air-conditioning costs
• Reduce runoff of storm-water
• Create habitat for birds, butterflies and bees
• Provide outdoor space for yourself to enjoy
• Beautify the environment
• Improve air quality
• Allow growth of vegetables and fruits

Why designing roof gardens is different?

First, consider the climate on a roof, which is usually more severe than that on the ground. It's often quite windy in summer and also very sunny & hot. But if nearby buildings are tall, the garden can be in shade all day, which can be too dark for many plants. This is why home owners planning a unique roof garden for their new home designs often hire a professional to find the best property or materials.

Designing a luxurious rooftop terrace

Never use regular garden soil for roof garden. It becomes too heavy for a roof and doesn't hold water properly, thereby compromising the drainage system. Use a lightweight artificial soil which is often called soil-less mix.

Plan on building some wooden or lattice screens on the windward side of your plants to keep them from developing a permanent lean. Lattice can also provide some shade, especially for a southern or western exposure.

For new homes, make sure that you install an automatic drip irrigation. Container plants need much more frequent watering than plants on the ground. Sun, heat and wind will compound the water requirement. By midsummer, if not earlier, you would need to hand-water at least once a day and in very hot weather, twice a day. This schedule is nearly impossible to maintain every day all season, which is why a drip system is crucial.

Finally, it is essential that you get approval from your landlord or building co-operation board and the local planning commission. They will probably require that your roof be examined and certified by an engineer or architect, who will stipulate required changes to the surface of the roof and the weight limits for your structures, containers and plants.

Once you get approval, consider hiring a qualified building designer who specialises in providing the best building plan in Perth.