An Ultimate Guide For A Beautiful Terrace Garden
Nothing is more therapeutic than surrounding yourself with greenery and soothing views. But with the development of urban areas, cities are lacking green spaces. There are lots of tall corporate buildings, mobile towers, smog, etc., making it difficult to feel connected with nature.
But someone has rightly said, “Where there’s a will, there’s a way!”
For people who are fond of plants and gardening, but aren’t able to grow them in their homes because of a restricted area, there is a solution for them as well. Create a TERRACE GARDEN!
What is a Terrace Garden?
Terrace Garden, as the name suggests, a garden on the terrace! It is an amazing way to have a green corner or area in your place where you can cultivate vegetables, fruits, flowers, plus more. It is also known as a rooftop garden.
Also, many countries such as India, France, Canada, etc. have legally allowed commercial and residential building owners to have a partly green rooftop.
It is must-have for every nature lover, and having a lush green garden in your space isn’t just going to be a spot for fresh plants or flowers or veggies, it is going to be a brilliant idea for many other reasons too!
Terrace Garden – An Awesome Concept
Roof gardens are a superb architectural and environmental initiative, that is not only a pure treat to the eyes, but offers many other benefits as well.
THERAPEUTIC
Nowadays, almost everyone is engaged in long hours of working in front of the screens. What could be more refreshing than spending a relaxing time amidst calm and green surroundings! Having a terrace garden at the top of your home or office is an ultimate therapy and can be highly beneficial for your mental as well as overall health.
COOL INDOOR ENVIRONMENT
Having a terrace garden in your home will not only make the rooftop look gorgeous, but it will also help in keeping the indoor cooler.
BETTER AIR QUALITY
The polluted air particles and smog have become a common thing in urban and metropolitan cities. To reduce their effect and keep the air filtered, rooftop gardens are being encouraged to a great extent. Also, green plants help in the reduction of greenhouse emissions, thus contributing to the improvement of air quality.
GROWING YOUR ORGANIC VEGETABLES
Nothing is more satisfying than being able to grow veggies like microgreens and other fresh food on your own. By having a terrace garden you have lots of options to plant like fruits, spices, herbs, and more.
BEST USE OF RAINWATER
One of the best ways to utilize rainwater is with the help of terrace gardens. It is free water offered by mother nature, and plants on the top can immediately use it and also store the excess.
How To Create Your Own Terrace Garden?
Well, Rooftop Gardens are becoming the need of the hour and they’re also a wonderful way to relieve stress and anxiety. The entire time that you spend in the serene area will make you feel nothing but refreshing!
Here are some easy steps you can follow to convert your terrace into a garden.
#1 Plan Properly
Whether you’re thinking of creating a garden in your balcony, or on the rooftop, a planned layout is a requisite. You cannot just gather the required elements and put them in the desired area. Take a piece of paper, try to draw the garden design, utilize every inch of your space, look out for spots that receive the most sunlight or shade, and then move forward. Also, you can consult a professional if the need arises.
#2 Check Weight-Handling Capacity
A lot of items are needed to grow plants or make a garden. Make sure your building is capable of bearing the extra weight. The roof should be strong enough to carry the weight of the garden, soil, pots, waterproofing systems, other arrangements, etc. Also, you have to decide whether
- you want to create a lawn and cover the entire roof with soil and grass, in that case, you’ll have to consider many things (step #3) such as leakage, waterproof walls, etc., or
- if you just want to place a variety of pots, then no specific extra efforts are needed.
#3 Water Drainage
To grow efficiently, almost the entire vegetation needs the absorption of water and nutrients. Therefore, you must use porous soil that allows easy movement of air and water to drain. The various layers required for proper drainage of water are:
- Protective insulation layer.
- Drainage layer. For this layer, drainage mats can be used, and the excess water will be drained through it.
- Geo-textile filter layer, to separate the drainage and soil layer. It also helps to prevent blockage of drains.
- A layer of soil mixture to grow plants.
Also, don’t forget to look for a source of water for the regular watering of your rooftop garden.
#4 Select Containers and Plants
Now that you have a plan, and ready to build your pretty terrace garden, it is time to decide what all you want to plant.
Tip: Go slow. Initially start with 2-3 different plants, and then increase gradually.
You have a lot of options when it comes to planting/growing stuff in your garden such as
- Flowers – Roses, Hibiscus, Marigold, etc. (you can check out our flower guide)
- Vegetables – Lemon, Cabbage, Radish, Lettuce, and more.
- Fruits – Cherries, Figs, Plums, etc.
- Spices – Turmeric, Coriander, Garlic, Paprika, plus more.
- Herbs – Basil, Thyme, Oregano, etc.
- Other Plants – Spider plant, Aloe Vera, Geranium, and more.
These are some of the commonly grown things in a terrace garden, you can also look for more. After deciding what you want your garden to look like, you can choose stylish and appropriate containers – cemented, earthen, hanging, raised beds, etc. Some require standard sized pots while some veggies and plants need space to grow, so choose the one that best suits your requirements.
#5 Soil and Seeds
This is one of the crucial steps and should be performed carefully. Almost every plant needs a different type of soil, and of course distinct seeds. If you’re placing multiple pots then you have to put the soil according to the respective plant, and if you’re creating a lawn, then you need a type of soil that can help in the growth of multiple plants. And, you can get the seeds of the various plants from your local garden shop. No matter from wherever you buy these things, make sure they are of great quality. Else, your effort will not be fruitful.
#6 Begin Gardening
So, you have purchased and gathered all the elements and items to beautify your rooftop. Now, you can create a nice arrangement, add the soil, plant the seeds, water them regularly, take care of their maintenance, and see your garden bloom!
Terrace Garden Decoration
After setting up the essentials and placing the pots and plants, you can use the following ideas to decorate and enhance the vibe of your rooftop garden.
Add Lights
To enjoy the serene place in the night, you can add beautiful lights to the garden. You can place them across the boundary or hang designer bulbs or just lay them on the railings.
Comfortable Furniture
Adding stylish pieces of furniture to relax after a long day is a great idea for your roof garden area. Put chairs, table, or if you have great space and a little covered area then you can also consider keeping a comfy couch. Sit in a refreshing place, sip your tea, look at the greenery, and enjoy a lovely time with your family!
Flooring
If you have a vacant floor space after setting up the entire arrangement, you can make it look designer as well. Instead of the basic tiles that are already there, you can put a rug or artificial grass, or a carpet to add grace to the overall garden area. The point is to utilize every space by adding minimal yet sophisticated decor.
Put a Showpiece
Make space look even more attractive by putting a showpiece such as lanterns, statues, hanging pots, pretty pictures, etc. You can also find a variety of garden accessories that can fit perfectly in your cozy spot.
Use the Walls
Give your garden a modern look by vertical landscaping. Utilize the walls and cover them with plants or colorful flowers. This will also complement the other plants and is a creative way to use the barren wall.
Mistakes To Avoid
While preparing your terrace to have a magnificent view, here are some mistakes that you should definitely avoid!
- Not Planning efficiently
Planning is the key to any successful task. As mentioned above, prior to taking any actions for making a rooftop garden, plan everything on a piece of paper, or get in touch with an expert, or search for DIY techniques, and then move forward. Do not just go out, gather the gardening stuff, and start placing.
- Not Creating a Good Arrangement
To make the most of a restricted area means arranging things in a way that won’t create a mess, and yet look amazing. While planning, picture each thing, and decide where it is to be put or placed.
- Not Checking Water Drainage Requirements
If converting the rooftop into a lawn is in your mind, then do not forget to check the water drainage system. Plants need a lot of water, soil, etc., and if you don’t put proper layers or check how the water drains, it may affect the walls of your home. While planning the process, don’t ignore the drainage requirements.
- Over-doing Things
Yes, you always wanted to have a garden in your place, and finally, you got an incredible idea for that as well! But, this doesn’t mean you’ll add everything and anything you always dreamt of. Shortlist the things that fit perfectly in the area; don’t add too many plants or while decorating adding too many decor pieces or filling the space with so many lights. The goal is to create perfection and not under-do or over-do anything.
- Not Choosing the Right Plants
This is one of the most common mistakes you can make. While choosing the plants for your garden, you need to check for the ones that grow great in the location you live in. The type of climate your area has will have an impact on the plants. For instance, roses grow best in warm temperature, and herbs like mint grow best in a container, if grown in an open garden, you’ll have to be extra careful, else they can take up the entire place, and so on.
- Irregular Maintenance and Watering.
Once you have set up your garden and it starts blooming a little, you might get lazy and stop looking after it. Do NOT do that. Plants need maintenance and water every day. Don’t let your efforts go in vain by not having a regular garden routine.
- Selecting the Wrong Pots
Pots or containers are one of the most important parts of your terrace garden. Before deciding whatever plant you want to grow, check how much space it requires, as some plants may grow in a narrow jar while some require a wide space to grow. For example, a money plant won’t be able to spread in a small pot, and basil would easily grow in a small container and doesn’t require wide space.
Now, you’re aware of making the most of your terrace. Follow the above guidelines, gather the essential things, and put yourself to work for creating an amazing terrace garden! You can enjoy yourself in the lap of nature, and see how wonderful you’re going to feel. Also, you will be able to have fresh fruits and vegetables from your garden, resulting in awesome lifestyle changes.