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A lush garden overlooking the grounds, strewn with bushes, vibrant flowers and trees that keep the area cool and dappled. Laid across the area is a bed of misty grass that never fails to tickle the feet. Furthermore, aside from being fundamental elements of nature, trees and plants are environmentally vital for their therapeutic value.
The feeling of one-ness with nature is perhaps the main reason for the emergence of terrace gardens, and the surging of the interest especially of those with a soft spot for landscaping their own homes. But in the landscape of the modern metro, amidst skyscrapers and towering condominiums, a terrace garden is a rare if not surprising find.
The city’s overcrowding and overall architectural features prove it near-impossible if not difficult to start a full-fledged terrace garden, making green thumbs settle with a few potted plants on their balconies.
Terrace gardens become a sort of refuge where one can spend tired evenings, breathe in the cool air, and relax and withdraw from the world, even for an hour. And despite the limitations, putting up a terrace garden is still possible, given the right space, resources, and imagination.
Putting the Garden Together
In most aspects, terrace gardening is both similar to and different from the usual gardening. One, save for some considerations like the greater spatial restrictions, terrace gardening involves roughly the same materials and effort as the usual front or back gardening. Two, it also entails the devotion of time, and the investment of cash (the other kind of greenery) for you to reap the benefits.
- Plan the entire layout.
Photo by Hair Squared under CC by 2.0
Visualize the basic features of your garden. Have an idea of how your garden is supposed to look like: what features you’d like to include, where these features will go, and which areas to embellish on. Also consider the budget and the materials that will be needed throughout the entire process.
- Check your limits.
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Given that the available space for an urban terrace garden will be relatively small, be mindful of how you use the space available. Use this space wisely, and consider what your foundation will allow; in short, make sure the space is big enough, and the terrace is strong enough to hold the plants.
To start with, you will probably need at least 50 sq ft of terrace space if you’re living in an apartment; if you’re nestled in a condominium, the balcony will be enough.
- Seek professional help
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Inasmuch as you want to personally design your entire terrace garden, some professional advice won’t hurt; in the long run it will be beneficial for you especially if you know little about gardening and landscaping.
Make sure to hire a professional who will allow your creative opinions to be reflected in the garden, instead of forcing them to the side to make way for his opinions alone. Recommendations will be greatly beneficial when seeking for hired help.
- Establish a proper drainage system.
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The last thing you want is to have a beautiful garden in a leaking house. Checking the walls and ceilings’ sturdiness at the onset of your gardening process will save you from potential hassle.
- Be careful and specific in choosing plants
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There are certain types of plants that are appropriate exclusively for a terrace setting. Consider fibre-rooted plants such as roses, money plants, orchids, and bonsai trees. Regular trees are of course out of the question.
- Choose the right soil.
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As the soil should not exert much pressure on the building, the typical types of soil are not advisable. In this case, soil rite or peat moss is the best choice. Note however, that these particular kinds of soil are usually a bit more expensive. To counter the cost, it can be mixed with garden earth or manure.
- Design accordingly.
Photo by Hair Squared under CC by 2.0
More often than not, the best terrace gardens consist of various artefacts of different backgrounds and cultures (a zen fountain, for example), and tables and chairs. Treated wood is frequently used for its numerous advantages: other than being easy to work with, this material is usually less pricey compared to flower pots.
If you’re short on funds and time, then you can start small: create a small patch of green, and over time transform this into a full terrace garden. The process provides you with the fulfilling experience of watching your garden take shape, and will exude a greater sense of accomplishment due to the amount of time and effort that was put into completing it.
Click here to learn about the other types of terrace gardens.
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