Rithika: Wouldn’t it be amazing if you can cook with the vegetables harvested from your own garden?
Nayani: Yes, of course! But, how do I do it? I live in an apartment. To me, gardening is a dream that can never be fulfilled.
Rithika: Hey, you don’t need to get disappointed. There’s this amazing concept called “Rooftop Gardening” for people like you who think gardening is only for those who have a soiled space.
Nayani: Do you mean I can transform my terrace into a garden? It sounds interesting. How can I do it? Can you share with me a few terrace garden ideas?
Rithika: Yes! Check out some cool terrace garden ideas to make the best use of your rooftop garden.
1. Create Raised Beds
Raised beds are containers with four frames that can be made up of different materials like wood, concrete, rock or bricks. Before talking about the measurements of raised beds, let’s understand why we should consider raised beds:
- With the help of raised beds, you can grow more plants in less space.
- Raised beds offer better drainage
- Plants in raised beds require less care and maintenance
Now that you are convinced to use raised beds let’s talk about the measurements.
To ensure plants have enough space to extend their roots, raised beds that are 4 feet wide are the best choice. This way, you don’t need to step inside the bed to take care of the plants. While the length of the bed can be your wish, raised beds with a minimum of 10-12 inches deep are recommended. This is one of the best terrace garden ideas your garden will absolutely love!
2. Utilise The Vertical Space
Do you have a small space and want to make the best of it? Going vertical is the solution! If you have a ladder sitting in the corner of your storeroom collecting dust, this is the best time to use it. All you have to do is lean it against a wall and hang the potted plants to each step of the ladder.
Or, do you have a dirty or unused wall? Then, thank the wall! That’s probably going to be your favourite from now on. Now, all you have to do is get some colourful wall planters, put your favourite flower plants or herbs in them. Your garden wall is ready!
The best way to utilize the vertical space is by planting climbers and trailers. To make the place more attractive, opt for hanging plants.
3. Create A Seating Space
Do you want to enjoy your garden to the fullest while having a fun chat with your family? Here are some ideas…
- Layer the artificial grass in the empty place
- Set up a coffee table, benches or a swing
- Select the furniture that blends well with the overall setting of a place
- If less space is bothering you, choose foldable seating
- Or set up with floor seating with a rug and colourful cushions
4. Improve The Aesthetics
If you want to take the aesthetics of your place to the next level, put up a stunning statue or a water fountain in the middle. This acts as a focal point.
Choose pots of different colours and shapes to add a pop of colour. Place pebble stones on the top of a pot. Introduce plants and scented candles that give a pleasant fragrance.
5. Put Up The Lights
This is one of my favourite terrace garden ideas. While looking for rooftop gardening ideas, don’t underestimate the magic lights can do. You’ve got endless options to choose from when decorating your garden with lights.
Introduce ground lights, fairy lights or an artificial moon with a red light inside it. Even candles can do wonders by making the space more pleasing.
Check out some cool plant decoration ideas you can try to glamourise your home!
Now when you’ve got some brilliant ideas to decorate your terrace garden it’s time to learn a thing or two about setting up the terrace layout. Here are the steps you need to follow:
Check Terrace Capacity
Hurray! You decided to set up your terrace garden. Now, your first step is to answer the following question:
“Is the roof sturdy enough to bear the weight of planters, soil, plants and other essential accessories?”
Once you’ve ensured that the roof is strong enough to handle the extra weight, you can opt for lightweight planters like fabric grow bags, reused plastic containers and ceramic containers. If the terrace can bear a heavy load, you can choose wooden raised beds.
Waterproof The Roof
Who wants leakage and dampness on their terrace? No one, right?
So, after you get your terrace capacity checked, your next step is to waterproof the roof. This is one of the roof gardening techniques you shouldn’t ignore. You must be wondering, how? There are two ways to get it done:
- If you have a decent budget, you can approach professionals to get your roof waterproofed
- If you want to do it yourself, use drain cell mats and geotextile membrane as a base for soil mix
Once you’ve set up the base, install the effective drainage system to drain the excess water.
Prepare Soil Mix
Just like any other living being, plants can’t function without proper nourishment. So, soil mix used for terrace gardens should be rich in nutrients and lightweight. You must be well aware about all the ingredients to prepare an effective soil mixture. .We are here to help you out. Follow the steps mentioned below, and your universal soil will be ready!
How to prepare the soil mixture?
- Take 2 parts of garden soil, 2 parts of cocopeat, 1 part of vermicompost,1 part of cow dung compost, 1 part of leaf mould and mix it well.
- To the mixture, add 4 teaspoons of bone meal and 2 teaspoons of neem cake powder.
What are you waiting for! Get your containers and fill them with the soil mix.
Sketch The Layout On A Paper
While more people tend to avoid this, I believe sketching the layout on paper makes the process easier. Because, when you make a rough sketch of your terrace garden, you can have a clear picture. If something doesn’t seem to work out, you can just change it on paper without involving physical work.
Consider the following points while sketching a layout.
- Sketch the layout considering the size and shape of the roof.
- Observe the sunlight patterns on each part of the terrace.
- While you set up the plants, set them according to their sunlight requirements.
- If the space is less, the best way to accommodate more plants is to use vertical planters.
FAQs Related To Terrace Vegetable Gardening Ideas
How much sunlight is required for vegetable plants?
- Vegetable plants require at least 4-8 hours of direct sunlight
- Herbs, gourds, brinjal, cucumber, tomato and okra require at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight
- Spinach, cabbage, carrot, onion, beans, radish and cauliflower require 4-6 hours of direct sunlight
How frequently should I water the plants?
This is a question people often ask when looking for rooftop vegetable garden ideas. Here’s the answer to it.
The best time to water the plants is when they need it. Touch the top of the soil, and if it doesn’t stick to your fingers, then it’s time to water. Don’t overdo it because excess water washes away useful nutrients from plants and may also rot the roots.
Try out our brilliant terrace garden ideas and write to us if you have any questions that we haven’t covered in the article. We would love to answer them for you!
