Tips and Ideas for Creating a Roof Garden

Creating a roof garden can be very beneficial. Not only does it give you the feel of a nice landscape that you don't have, it also helps raise the value of your home. How you create your roof garden determines your success. Here are some ideas and tips for the elements and features that you can use to create an elegant roof garden.

When creating a garden roof you should always check the foundation in which you will be building your roof garden on. You should always check for water drainage, weight ability and waterproofing. The last thing you want to do is build a garden that is too heavy on top of a building with now drainage and no waterproofing abilities. Always insure that the roof will hold the weight that you intend to put on top of it. Make sure that there is adequate drainage and that the roof top as some sort of waterproofing material.

If you can't meet these requirements you may still have the option for a container roof garden.

Tips and Ideas for Creating a Roof Garden: Simple Design

A simple design is always easy and can sometimes be the best option. Simple designs can make a big difference with out breaking your budget or causing problems on the roof. Some simple garden ideas would include a Japanese garden. While you wouldn't need to recreate a true Japanese garden, allowing for some of the same traits would help to keep it simple but elegant. Raised beds using lightweight blocks, timber or other planting stones would help give it an earthy and simple feel.

Tips and Ideas for Creating a Roof Garden: Creating the Floor

When creating a floor for your roof garden you need to again, keep in mind the weight and water abilities. Always use lighter stones, pavers and timber that will not weigh down your project. Crushed gravel and wood chips are a great option. However, the crushed gravel would out last the wood chips and create less of a mess. If you don't like the feel of the gravel your can still use it. Simply add in paving stones are ornamental stepping stones in the middle of the walkway.

By creating sections in your floor you will add color and appeal. After creating the walkway for your roof garden go back and feel in the rest of the area. You may choose to use the same materials or alternate. For example, one section could have small river rocks and another section could be designed using colored brick. Variation will help to give the illusion of a bigger area and will help to separate your garden so that it isn't one huge garden. It will help to create a more landscaped feel for your roof garden.

Tips and Ideas for Creating a Roof Garden: Focal Points

Creating different focal points in your roof garden will definitely add appeal. Adding focal points can be very easy if done correctly. Keeping in mind the weight limits think of what you would like to have in your roof garden. Here are a few things that you could use as focal points in your roof garden:

A sitting area

A raised flower bed

Large rocks (if weight permits)

Container garden,

An arbor or Trellis

Gazebo

Tips and Ideas for Creating a Roof Garden: Using Smart Flower Beds

When choosing your materials for creating your flower beds for your roof garden choose light weight materials. The lighter the weight the more items you can add later. Keep in mind that very moist soils will hold water and add weight to your foundation. Keep that in mind when you are planning for materials.

Since your roof garden will be on the roof and in direct sunlight, choose plants that are thrive in direct sunlight. Also insure that those same plants will handle drafts.

While these are only a few of the things you could add there are several possibilities. Using focal points will help to create a more elegant look and give the feeling of a true landscaped yard.

When planning your roof garden be sure to keep all these ideas in mind. It is best to draw out your plans ahead of time. This will help you to project weight, water resources and how it will be designed. Use your space wisely and be sure to use items that can easily be removed when creating your roof garden.