7 Expert Tips For A Lush, Green Terrace Garden PDF

7/23/2017 7 Expert Tips for a Lush, Green Terrace Garden
Outdoors Decorating Guides Garden Guides
7 Expert Tips for a Lush, Green Terrace

Garden
A gardening expert gives insightful and essential steps on how to go about setting
up a thriving rooftop garden
Archana Rajendran 20 July 2017

Houzz India Contributor. Architect and writer, passionate about all things design.... More
A serene garden in which one can unwind is high on the wishlist of every nature
lover. However, many of us are restricted by the lack of space in cities. In such
situations, a building’s terrace is the perfect place to set up your own private
garden. Apart from providing refreshing access to greenery, rooftop gardens can
also help maintain cooler temperatures in and around your home. Your terrace
garden need not be restricted to a scattered collection of pots. With some practical
know-how and creative thinking, you can transform your terrace into a lovely
outdoor space for relaxation, with lawns, lighting, water bodies and beautiful
shaded areas for seating. Here are expert insights on how to go about planning
your terrace garden.
Expert tips by Sunil de Sousa, veteran agriculturist and director of Greenpiece
SPACES ARCHITECTS@ka
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1. Check the load-bearing capacity of the roof slab

The first step is to determine if your roof slab is strong enough to handle the load
of a terrace garden, including the weight of the soil, waterproofing systems, plants
and seating. Sunil de Sousa recommends consulting a professional to accurately
analyse your structural system and determine the right location for your rooftop
garden. This will depend on the location of your load-bearing walls and columns. In
some instances, such as in the case of a cantilevered roof, the slab can support
less weight.
2. Essential pre-treatments
In any terrace garden, care must be taken to plan drainage points and prevent
stagnation of water. Water stagnation and seepage can cause cracks in the roof
slab and long-term structural damage. To prevent this, de Sousa says that the roof
slab should be first treated with a layer of screed concrete (a thin layer of cement
and sand or fine aggregate that makes a smooth, level surface for further
treatments) and then waterproofed with a chemical compound like bitumen. If one 
is using planter boxes, these compounds can be applied to them before filling them
with soil. For proper, efficient drainage, de Sousa recommends using a layer of PVC
drainage cells, topped with a layer of geotextile fabric (a synthetic, absorbent

gardening fabric). The soil is then poured on top of these two layers.
Steve Masley Consulting and Design
3. Get the right soil mixture

“The soil mixture for terrace gardens is slightly different from the one used for
outdoor gardens, since the soil needs to promote drainage and be lightweight, as
well,” de Sousa says. The soil needs to be a mix of soil conditioners, fertilisers and
regular garden soil. Soil conditioners can be used to enhance water retention and
help retain nutrients. One can also use silicon-based soil conditioners like
vermiculite or organic options like coco peat and peat moss.
CULTURALS INTERIOR DESIGNERS
4. Choose the right type of plants

There should be an appropriate mix of flowering plants, ground cover and shrubs
for your terrace garden. De Sousa says that common choices for Indian climates
include the areca palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens), plumbago (Plumbaginaceae),
bird of paradise (Strelitzia reginae), yellow trumpet bush (Tecoma gaudichaudi, T.
castanifolia) and a variety of others – ask your local nursery what is best for your
terrace. For ground cover, one can choose smaller types of verbena
(Verbenaceae), monkey grass (Ophiopogon japonicus) and rain lily (Zephyranthes
candida, white, and Z. rosea, pink) and many others.
If the roof slab can withstand the weight, you can even opt for medium-sized
tropical trees, such as the Ashoka tree (Saraca asoka). For terraces which do not
have adequate shelter from the sun, de Sousa suggests low-maintenance gardens
without heat-sensitive plants.
More tips on planning a verdant terrace garden 
All Decked Out
5. Plan the seating and other aesthetic elements

Incorporate seating in appropriate places to enjoy your terrace garden to the
fullest. Here, the choice of material is important, since seaters on terrace gardens
are exposed to the elements throughout the day. For warm and coastal Indian
climates, Sunil recommends dressed stone seats, as they remain cool for the
greater part of the day. For places with cooler climates, one can opt for seats made
from materials like acacia wood, colloquially referred to as kikar wood.
Explore ideas for styling your terrace
Architectural Direction
“The current trend in outdoor seating is to go for movable furniture made from all-
weather materials like rattan,” de Sousa says. One can choose from a wide variety
of commercially available tables, chairs and swings that are specially treated to
withstand the elements.
sustainable garden design perth

Along with seating, garden
ornaments and decorative
elements can be used to
lend an aesthetic touch to
terrace gardens. “One can
opt for ornaments like bird
baths, stone urns and bird
feeders,” de Sousa. Water
ponds and fountains can
also be installed to create a
pleasing ambience in your
terrace garden.
YOGESH WADHWANA
When it comes to outdoor lighting, Sunil says that LED lights are a popular option.
Other viable options for terrace gardens are solar-powered lights. These have solar
panels built into their fixtures. “The advantage of solar powered lights is that they
don’t require wiring and are movable,” says Sunil. All pathways would require low,
inset lighting. One can opt for footpath lights and mushroom fittings. Carved
granite light fixtures are also in vogue.
Outside Space NYC Landscape Design
He also recommends using uplighting techniques, where lights are installed at

ground level and used to illuminate objects from below. “Focused uplighting for
shrubs and trees can be used to create a fairytale-like feel in terrace gardens,.” de
Sousa says.
More lighting ideas for outdoor spaces
Land Design, Inc.
7. After-care and maintenance

Prioritising maintenance is a crucial aspect of planning all roof gardens, de Sousa
says. A full-fledged roof garden will need an irrigation system for regular
maintenance. For a small garden, a simple sprinkler system would do. For larger
gardens, Sunil recommends a combination of a drip and a sprinkler system. “Pump
systems that can be activated from a convenient location within the house will
simplify maintenance,” he says.
Plan for easy access points to the terrace, so that daily care and watering is not an
issue. Other tips for planning a low-maintenance garden is to avoid planting too
many annuals or lawn grasses that require a lot of watering and mowing.
Read more:
6 Mistakes to Avoid in Your Balcony Garden 
Tell us:
What type of decorative elements would you like to use in your terrace garden?
Tell us in Comments below.

7 Expert Tips For A Lush, Green Terrace Garden PDF

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7/23/2017 7 Expert Tips for a Lush, Green Terrace Garden

Outdoors Decorating Guides Garden Guides

7 Expert Tips for a Lush, Green Terrace

Archana Rajendran 20 July 2017

Expert tips by Sunil de Sousa, veteran agriculturist and director of Greenpiece

1. Check the load-bearing capacity of the roof slab

drainage cells, topped with a layer of geotextile fabric (a synthetic, absorbent

Steve Masley Consulting and Design

3. Get the right soil mixture

CULTURALS INTERIOR DESIGNERS

4. Choose the right type of plants

More tips on planning a verdant terrace garden 

All Decked Out

5. Plan the seating and other aesthetic elements

Explore ideas for styling your terrace

sustainable garden design perth

Outside Space NYC Landscape Design

He also recommends using uplighting techniques, where lights are installed at

More lighting ideas for outdoor spaces

Land Design, Inc.

7. After-care and maintenance

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