garden | Idea Log

Many city dwellers dream of having a green corner. We explain how to design a terrace garden.

The Best Way To Design And Furnish A Terrace Garden

A roof garden or terrace offers a much more intimate retreat in the city center than a balcony. For homeowners, it is often an addition to the garden as it offers a nice view. A terrace in the upper part of the house will not only significantly improve the property but also your quality of life. All you need to do is figure out how to make the most of this area. You should always make sure to check in advance if your project is restricted by any building regulations or by the structure of your roof. Keep in mind that creating a roof garden sometimes puts a very high load on the roof. That is why you should check to what extent the structural conditions allow planting and whether the substructure can support the additional weight.

Landscaping Ideas On Terraces And Roofs

With a little effort and imagination, you can transform your terrace into a fully equipped living space. Depending on the space available and the load capacity of the building, you can divide it into different zones so that you can enjoy it throughout the year.

Cover Your Garden On The Terrace

If your garden is exposed to strong sunlight, you will need to add a suitable cover. This will provide valuable shade and you will be able to stay in it even in the middle of the day when the sun is at its highest. At the same time, it is an ideal refuge from which you can watch the summer storms. With the right cover, your furniture, decorations, plants, and play areas will always stay dry and clean.

Depending on taste and needs, sometimes an umbrella is enough. However, it is not an ideal solution in strong winds. A fixed awning protects from the sun and light rain. On the other hand, a canopy with an aluminum frame, glass, and integrated sun protection is a robust and durable option. But even a wooden pergola with climbing plants or a waterproof fabric awning is equally valid. It is important that it is made of a type of weather-resistant wood that is not prone to rot and is not vulnerable to fungal infestations. Coniferous woods such as Douglas fir, pine, and spruce are popular and are particularly suitable materials for a rooftop pergola.

Weather Resistant Floors

The type of coating you should choose when designing the terrace is a matter of taste, price, and durability.

If you have a large terrace, you can use various coverings to divide the area into different sections depending on your needs and with options adapted to the purpose of each of the areas.

There are several materials that can be used as linings:

Wood

A wooden floor is comfortable and does not get too hot even in strong sunlight, a major advantage for those who enjoy walking barefoot. To ensure that the floor remains intact for a long time, the wood must be installed on a substructure and treated properly. Native larch and Douglas fir must be sealed, for example against blue mold and rot. If not, a special decking oil or another oil suitable for the type of wood used will protect floors from UV light and moisture.

WPC

This wood-plastic composite is a material that is typically made up of 60% wood chips and 40% plastic. Due to its composition, WPC flooring is more weather resistant and robust than pure wood. This type of flooring is also placed on a substructure to prevent water from collecting. WPC flooring is easy to clean, as dirt can be easily removed with a pressure washer.

Tile

Exterior tile is a durable, low-maintenance coating. They must be placed on a completely level surface that will not move or shift in the future, otherwise, cracks and stresses in the tiles may occur. A significant advantage of this coating is the wide range of colors and patterns available, which means that you can unleash your creativity. To avoid the risk of injury, make sure you buy non-slip tiles.

Lawn

Nature lovers can even enjoy grass in their terrace garden. It can be high-quality artificial grass, which is placed on any surface. In this case, it is important to ensure that it is permeable to water and resistant to UV rays. As an alternative, and depending on the load capacity, you can choose to create natural green areas on your roof with rolls of grass or by sowing grass seeds. Regular lawn maintenance and a substrate that mimics real garden soil are crucial if you want to create an authentic lawn. Our guide will show you how to lay grass correctly.

In Summary: Design Of A Garden On The Terrace

A terrace or roof garden will improve your quality of life and significantly enhance the qualities of your home.
Before designing your green space, check the load-bearing capacities of the building and find out if there are any building regulations that must be followed.
Weather-resistant flooring is an essential component of any garden. Wood, WPC, and non-slip tiles are common alternatives. Natural green areas can also be added in certain circumstances.
Add a screen for more privacy and a cover to protect you from wind, sun, and rain.
Furniture and decorative objects made from weather-resistant materials are suitable for this outdoor space. Plastic and metal are easy to maintain, while wooden furniture creates a cozy atmosphere.
We recommend that you plant a mix of hardy, winter-hardy plants and summer annuals in your terrace or roof garden. Wildlife-friendly plants are an additional food source and shelter for bees, butterflies, and insects.

You may also be interested in Rooftop gardens: ideas and how to make one

The roof of a house or building is a space that is generally wasted, but in many cases, it is used to enjoy it and appreciate the landscape that surrounds us.

On a roof, the view is better and things are glimpsed in a different way. A roof terrace is an excellent option to give the space a new use and create a cozy and relaxing stay for the family.

But another wonderful option, and which we will talk about this time, is to create a roof garden. Have you heard the concepts of ecological ceilings, green roofs, green roofs? This is what we will deal with on this occasion: the design of rooftop gardens, green roofs, and ecological and sustainable roofs.

If you have the plan to build a roof garden, green terrace, or put vegetation on the roof of your house, do not forget to contact the professionals in gardening, and if your project is more ambitious, the landscape architects can help you. Go on and get inspired.

Rooftop Gardens, What Are They?

Green roofs imply an alternative use of a commonly overlooked place: the rooftop or roof of the house. A green roof is one that has vegetation and that can also be used as a rest and coexistence area. According to its uses and the management of the vegetation, a green roof can be:

– A simple roof terrace decorated with plants, or a terrace with vegetation, ideal for living, playing, and chatting, where the vegetation fulfills an ornamental function.

– A roof garden, which involves a little more work and design. In this case, a landscaping and vegetation design is carried out on the surface of the roof, considering places for pots, ponds, bowls for trees, and a suitable irrigation and drainage system for the site.

– Ecological roofs or green roofs, are those covered by vegetation in order to isolate and refresh the interior of the house, avoiding overheating of the roof, at the same time that they take advantage of alternative space to purify the air and clean the environment, through adequate vegetation such as shrubs, grass, and trees, avoiding as much as possible the emission of pollutants into the environment.

Rooftop Gardens

Speaking of ecological and sustainable systems, there is also the option of using the roof as a garden, adapting it to install bowls and special soil, a place to handle compost, irrigation and drainage systems, and areas to harvest.

The vegetation, in this case, consists of vegetables, fruit trees, and aromatic and medicinal herbs.

It is very important that the roof has the necessary structure for this, since the earth, water, and vegetation, in general, constitute strong weights that not just any foundation and structure can resist.

How To Install A Roof Garden?

The requirements for installing a rooftop garden, from placing flower pots to having an organic garden, are basically the same:

– A special waterproofing system: the roof must be perfectly sealed to avoid any type of leakage to the structure of the building.

– Drainage system, either by slope or with gutters to collect water and reuse it if possible. It should not be left accumulated to avoid extra weights in the structure or possible leaks in the waterproofing system.

– An anti-root barrier for larger shrubs and trees, considering the height of the bowls and the land to be used. Allowing the roots to grow too large can damage the structure of the house.

– The land to use depends on the vegetation you are going to place, it is not the same material for desert plants or a succulent garden as for aromatic herbs or an organic garden. Consider that point, in addition to the amount of water each plant requires.

Rooftop Garden Ideas

The vegetation on a roof can indicate the use or uses that are given to it. Therefore, a good design is essential, whether for a garden, to separate areas of plants, or to place pots and benches. Here we are going to share different uses of rooftop greenery or ideas to create a rooftop garden. Take note:

– For a terrace with benches, pots or bowls can be built on the perimeter of the space to delimit, for this, stone, brick, or concrete are ideal.

– You can include flowerpots or planters inside the roof to define areas, assign trails, and separate activities. Fiberglass pots are ideal for this due to their multiple designs and lightweight.

Rustic Roof Garden

– A rustic terrace for desert areas will look great if you install pots and wooden boxes with palms, earth lilies, or bougainvilleas to define the perimeter. This, in addition to working as a protector, beautifies the views of the landscape.

Traditional Roof Garden

If there is a large old tree in your house, it will be the perfect ally for the views from the roof. If it is close to the building, place pots on the perimeter closest to it, and hang small pots with flowers from its branches, taking advantage of the shade and embellishing the views.

Modern Rooftop Garden

The perimeter pots with floral vegetation define better if, behind the flowers, lilies, swords of St. George or palm trees are planted.

Minimalist Rooftop Garden

Foxtails are perfect for perimeter roof planters, due to their light color and the lightness of their leaves and flowers.

Roof Garden With Concrete Furniture

A roof terrace can also combine gardening with furniture design, such as this concrete bench that transforms into planters, delimiting a space to chat and hang out.

The Vertical Gardens On The Rooftops

An exceptional option for terraces is vertical gardens, for several advantages:

-They help to delimit zones or protect from areas that need to be concealed, such as the corner of the controls or gas installations, the washing service, or the loading center.

-They can obstruct unpleasant views, towards areas of the landscape that are not attractive such as neighboring houses, neglected buildings, or desolate places.

– Vertical garden designs are usually ecological and sustainable, so the plants can be of little care, require little water and offer a lot of beauty.

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