Having a green surrounding in this age of skyscrapers and car-packed roads, terrace gardens are truly your personal heaven inside the home. Watching the first dew drop crystal clear on the leaves of a plant or catching a whiff of fresh air from your very own terrace garden after a long day gives unequaled pleasure. Even a romantic candlelight dinner in the terrace garden is special and unique. The very sight of those lush green plants, whether it’s a simple money plant or something as exotic as a bonsai jewel, brings unmatched peace of mind and serenity. Researchers have explained that having a garden and plenty of plants around you introduces a lot of positive energy around you. This will manifest as increased work productivity and a more balanced mind.
Why Maintain A Terrace Garden?
A terrace garden is a beautiful part of your home. Terrace gardens are easy to maintain and also are not too heavy on the pocket. They can consist of a variety of plants of your choice. You can design your terrace garden with flowering plants. Ornamental plants or bonsai can also adorn the garden. Play with your creativity and be generous in selecting the plants.
1. Planning A Terrace Garden
A terrace garden needs a lot of prior planning. The first thing the owner needs to know is a rough idea of how he intends to do the landscaping. Plants need water, and an excellent draining facility is of extreme importance. You must not let the water stagnate on the terrace as this could lead to a considerable amount of water clogging. A proper drainage system involves the technical aspects of making a terrace garden. Get a landscaping expert and ask him to analyze the terrain of the terrace. Check where it slopes. Keep the plants in such a way that the water will drain down. Stagnant water will also lead to the growth of fungus and algae, which, besides being unhygienic, will also steal the beauty of the roof garden. It would be a good idea to make the terrace waterproof.
2. Garden Furniture
Do you plan to have some quiet dinners or a light evening snack in your indoor roof garden? If yes, get the right garden furniture. Go for sleek chairs and a foldable table. Ensure they mustn’t occupy too much space, and you can convert your terrace into a quiet retreat from time to time. After the patio has been waterproofed and sufficient drainage holes have been fitted, it is now time to bring the plants home.
3. Choosing The Plants
A well-designed terrace garden should have a good mixture of flowering and non-flowering plants. Avoid overcrowding the terrace garden and turning it into a dense jungle. Choose from a variety of bamboos for starters. Then go for some flowering plants. Fragrant flowering plants like button roses add that exotic scent to the air. However, some people aren’t too fond of fragrances. They may suffer from certain allergic reactions to certain scents of flowers. Don’t be perturbed, for there are an equal number of plants with a bunch of brightly colored flowers with no fragrance. For example, crotons and cacti bear very pretty tiny flowers. Bonsai is fast becoming one of the most popular choices for terrace gardening. Their tiny stature makes them fit into any terrace garden with ease.
Don’t limit the plant variety to only flowering and non-flowering decorative plants. You could probably try to grow vegetables and fruits in one part of the garden. You can literally have fresh garden vegetables from the terrace for dinner or lunch. Last but not least, if you live somewhere with heavy pollution, go for some indoor plants that aid in purifying the air in your home.
4. Caring And Maintenance
Use a good mix of soil, manure and moss as the medium to grow the plants. Make sure you are aware of the plant’s water requirements. Over watering can kill the plants. Time and again, ensure that the water drains well and there is no water clogging. Some plants need constant trimming or cutting of the old leaves. For example, bonsai plants need their leaves to be trimmed after a certain duration. The owner must be aware of such requirements. A water body can be made out of a rocky enclosure. Gather some rocks and make a small pond. You can grow some water lilies on them. You can do it as long as you keep replacing the water regularly.
Useful Tips For Terrace Gardening
1. Waterproofing The Roof
Your roof must be water-resistant and leakage-free. Ensure to waterproof your terrace garden, examine your terrace first and if you find any leakage, fix them first.
2. Avoid Pesticides
Avoid spraying chemicals and pesticides if you want to grow organic vegetables in your garden.
3. Drought-Tolerant Plants
You can plant flowers like sedums or alpines if you have little soil for terrace gardening. These flowers can resist a certain amount of drought.
4. Container Gardening
For starters, it’s better to go for container gardening instead of garden beds, as container gardening is relevantly easy to manage. Go for terracotta or ceramic planters, kitchen utensils, and coconut shells, but avoid using plastic pots or planters during summers as they absorb more heat.
5. Pick The Right Soil
Purchase quality soil for the plants that can drain well and allow aeration. You can DIY regular soil mix, compost cocopeat, and vermicompost.
6. Raining – No Watering
Avoid watering the plants during rains. And if there is excessive precipitation for a few days, add some nutrients to the soil to regain its quality.
7. Composting Is A Must
Composting improves water retention and adds the right amount of nutrients to the soil. You can mix compost in the soil once a week.
8. Proper Sunlight
Ensure your terrace garden gets at least six hours of direct sunlight to grow the vegetables and plants.
9. Be Cautious Of Pests
Be watchful of pests as they put a damper on your terrace garden. You can use neem oil or get rid of them by manually picking them up or using a forceful spray of water.
10. Maintain A Distance
Try not to keep plants too close as they compete for nutrition, water, and sunlight; too much closeness affects plants’ growth.
A terrace garden is the most congenial alternative to a sprawling garden in front of your home. It is an ideal way to beautify the house for people living in apartments and penthouses. At the same time, by doing so, you can pursue your gardening hobby. Enjoy the serenity and the freshness of the rich flora in your private retreat, your terrace garden.
Also Read: Here are some tips to help you find ways to decorate your home and add a personality that is truly a reflection of yourself.
