Gardening can be a relaxing and healthy hobby if you’re not the type to go outside as much. But what if you have a limited area? One choice can be indoor gardening, but if your roof allows it, you can also try going rooftop. It has a lot of space that is usually unused otherwise, and you and the environment will benefit from that. The following are preparations that you should make before putting in the plants.
Clean Out Your Roof
Whether you’re looking into simply using pots and planters or going full-on renovating the roof, it would be an excellent first step to clean it. That is especially applicable for the latter, since any inconsistencies may negatively affect the layers that you’re going to put on. And you’re better off not having the trouble of undoing and redoing your work. If you’re not up for doing it yourself, you can ask a roof cleaner to handle it for you.
Put on the Containers
After cleaning, you can start setting up the pots, planters, or the hardscaping material that you have. It’s best to make sure that what you’re using is lightweight, even when you factor in the water. You have to water your plants, after all. It’s also wise to take note that you can’t go vertical on the roof, so you have to stick with a horizontal setup. If you’re using pots and planters, you also have to make sure that the weight is evenly distributed.
Set Up Windbreaks
Unlike on the ground where you have trees, fences, and other buildings and homes that serve as windbreaks, you don’t have any on the roof. As a result, it’s going to be much windier, keeping you from growing anything too tall, and also making any irrigation dry out faster. You have to set up windbreaks to protect your plants. It’s best to use fences that only break up the wind and not completely block it, as the latter may fall if the force is strong enough.
Install an Irrigation System
One of the challenges of a rooftop garden is how you’re going to bring water up there. It can become tiring if you have to go up and down every time you have to irrigate. Carrying a large storage container of water to the roof doesn’t sound easily feasible either. If you’re truly serious about maintaining your rooftop garden, then you have to find a more manageable way to get water to the roof. You can ask around for people who install irrigation systems and have one set up at your place.
Once you do these, you’re pretty much ready to start your garden. When that grows, you’ll be able to enjoy the benefits that it can give you, such as fresher air and healthy food. Of course, it’s always best to check with your local government as well as a contractor if you can do this before you commit. You wouldn’t want to break the law or endanger your household for a pastime.
