Rooftop gardens have flourished in popularity lately, especially in busy cities like New York, where garden space is a true luxury. The best part? You don’t need a big rooftop to create a rooftop garden. Big or small, rooftop planters can change an unused space into a favorite hangout spot. By properly adding rooftop planters and other décor to your roof, the benefits can extend endlessly. Throw a get together with your best pals, enjoy a relaxing rooftop dinner with your family, or simply treasure the space alone with a rich cup of a coffee. Allow us to provide some answers about rooftop planters. Including tips to keep in mind, and a few of the best potted plants for rooftop locations.
6 Great Perks To Rooftop Planters
1. A New Place To Hang Out
Plants and flowers can make any space look better, even your roof which might be cluttered with stained concrete or bulky electrical boxes. No matter what your roof currently looks like it is the tallest point of your building, offering the greatest views. Turn your rooftop into more than a just garden but your new favorite hang out. Instead of just adding planters, incorporate a seating area and a table for convenience. Need more storage? Add benches that offer storage space beneath for gardening tools or unrelated items you only need sometimes during the year.
2. Why Waste Any Square Footage?
No matter where you live, you pay for your property by its square footage. Take advantage of the extra space on your roof by adding rooftop planters and comfortable décor.
3. Lots of Sun
High atop your roof, rooftop planters get lots sun exposure to the elements, such as sun and rain. As long as you pick plants that do well with your climate, this can work to your benefit. Of course, you always have to be careful of your plants getting too much sun. Exposed to the relentless sun on the top of a concrete building can prove too much for some breeds of flowers. Need shade? Plant a tree in a nearby planter, allowing the branches to provide natural shade to plants in need.
4. Keep Your Plants Safe From Hungry Wildlife
Passing deer, rabbits, and other wildlife are constantly picking at many gardens. While your rooftop planters will be plenty exposed to the natural elements, there are far less critters to worry about. No deer or rabbit is going to get on top of your roof, giving you less reason to fret over your foliage.
5. Generate Energy Benefits
By adding plants to the top of your roof you’re helping to solve the energy crises. Some rooftop gardens use thin plastic containers for plants; this gives the appeal that the plants are literally growing out of the roof. Planting this way will prove more work though, without proper precautions the roots of plants can break down into the roof of your building. You can help prevent this by adding fabric weed block beneath your plants, or you can simply turn to potted plants. If placed flat on the roof surface, potted plants also generate energy benefits for your building. This option also grants you the opportunity to select self-watering planters to keep your plants continually hydrated. This is very beneficial because dry plant soil is a common complication on sun soaked rooftops.
6. Rooftop Planters For Delicious Veggies
Using rooftop planters offers you the ability to grow vegetables and other plants that require a deep root bed. Tomatoes and cucumbers are great options because they need as much sun as they can get, which is exactly what your rooftop provides(Read More).
Some Of The Best Plants For Rooftop Gardens
Rooftop planters are going to be exposed to a lot of sun, for some plants this is a good thing but for others, not so much. Picking durable plants that do well in your particular hardiness zone will help you grow a successful rooftop garden.
Some of the greatest rooftop potted plants include:
Lavender: Best known for its lovely fragrance, lavender belongs to the mint family and is a native plant to the Mediterranean. Lavender does well with typical rooftop conditions, which tend to be warm and windy. Around one foot tall, lavender is great for Zones 5-9.
Daylily: The daylily might appear delicate and dainty but this fairly hardy plant does well for rooftop planters. The pinkish-lavender petals can handle full sun and will flourish in a wide range of locations, including Zones 3-9 (More Information).
Blue Star Juniper: The dwarf juniper shrub can reach 3 feet in height. It has unique needles with a shimmery blue quality that won’t go ignored. Blue star juniper can reach 3 feet tall and does well in Zones 4-8.
Kousa Dogwood: Looking to add height to your rooftop garden? The kousa dogwood can reach as tall as 30 feet, although dwarf versions are available. This tree blooms different shades throughout the year including white, pink, and even purple colored petals. Kousa dogwood is hardy to Zone 5.
Japanese Wisteria: This tree is so stunning you could stare at it all day. Plus, the uniquely twisted vines make a great rooftop planter accent, although beware that some parts of this plant are poisonous. Blooms throughout growing season and is recommended for Zones 4-9 (Read More Here).
5 Great Tips & Last Minute Reminders For Rooftop Planters
1. Don’t forget to check out your building code and local fire department rules before beginning your rooftop garden. You also want to make sure that your roof is strong enough to sustain the weight of potted plants.
2. Water is key to your plants survival; make sure before you lug them up on your roof that you have a way of providing regular water. Once again, this is where self-watering planters can really come in handy.
3. Add plants of different heights around your rooftop for aesthetic appeal. Professional designers like to group planters in odd numbers to create a style that flows well (More Information).
4. A rooftop planter that provides good drainage is incredibly important. While backyard planters can incorporate rocks or stones at the bottom of planters to help with drainage, you want to keep your rooftop planters as light as possible.
5. Start small and let your rooftop garden expand as you navigate the ins and outs of great rooftop planter design and functionality. Before long that unused space on your roof might become your new favorite spot to relax and unwind.
TerraCast Planters can help you create the perfect rooftop garden with our unbeatable self-watering planters.