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Find Local Roofers In Your Area Now! - 
Hgh above the city streets, small patches of green can be found. Roof gardens are a wonderful respite from city life. Here are a few tips to create a successful rooftop garden.
Before you begin creating your roof garden, check the local building codes. Follow any regulations pertaining to roof gardening or the use of a roof. Get written permission from your landlord or condo association, and be sure to include a clause giving you the right to limit access to the roof in non-emergency situations.
The Basic Elements of Garden Design
Begin your design with a thorough evaluation of your rooftop. Consider how you intend to use your garden. Do you want a quiet refuge or a place to entertain? The basic elements that need to be considered include the surface, lighting and electricity, furniture, containers, plants and water.
The Roof's Surface
For a roof garden, the surface is the single most important element you will have to deal with. Most roofs were not built for foot traffic. A concrete surface can be walked on; a shingled, or tar paper roof cannot. Consider building a modular wooden deck. 3-foot or 4-foot square deck sections can be moved around as needed. And if you move, you can take them with you. This type of design can be extended as you add on to your garden. You will also need to raise your planting containers to keep them from coming into contact with the roof. Wooden pallets make good platforms and help distribute the weight of plant containers.
Choosing and Using Planting Containers
A good plant container must provide good drainage but hold ample moisture at the same time. Found objects can make excellent containers and some can add a bit of whimsy. Choose containers that hold at least a gallon of soil to better protect plant roots and retain moisture.
Choose a lightweight planting medium especially designed for containers. Everyone knows that plants need moisture but it is not widely known that plant roots need oxygen. Top soil or even potting soil dumped in a container will give disappointing results. A good mix for containers includes equal parts top soil, peat moss and vermiculite. To this, add dried manure and organic fertilizer. Chemical fertilizers will contribute to a build up of salt in your containers.
Make sure there are adequate drainage holes in the bottom of your containers and add a couple of inches of small rocks and pebbles in the bottom. In areas of the country where the winter temperatures go below freezing, you may also wish to line the sides of your containers with Styrofoam insulation for added protection for perennials.
Watering your Roof Top Garden
Hotter temperatures, drying winds and confinement in containers all add up to a tremendous need for water. Your garden will probably have to be watered every day. This isn't a large disadvantage, really. It gives you the opportunity to observe and enjoy your garden more closely. The best time to water a roof top garden is in the evening. This gives the plants all night to soak up moisture so they won't wilt the next day. Rooftop gardens tend to be breezy, so the plants will dry quickly and there is little danger of the plants developing fungus and mold.
Watering is a simple task but one that gives the novice a difficult time. To check if your plants need watering, poke your finger one inch deep into the soil. If it is barely moist, it is time to water. Water the plant until the excess runs out of the bottom of the container. Make sure the surface soil is loose so the water soaks into the soil instead of running down the sides of the pot and out the bottom.
Although not truly necessary, lighting, electricity and furniture need to be considered. If you would like to use your garden after dark, you will need some form of lighting. Candles are not a good choice for safety reasons and battery operated lanterns are expensive to use. Consider solar powered lighting fixtures to solve this problem.
You will probably want to add some furniture to your garden. Stay away from lightweight plastic furniture that can blow off the roof. Go for something a little heavier, or choose chairs that can be folded flat when not in use.
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Roof Gardens | Local Roofers | Roof Gardens - Roof gardens are a wonderful respite from city life. Here are a few tips to create a successful rooftop garden.
Roof Gardens | Local Roofers | Roof Gardens - Roof gardens are a wonderful respite from city life. Here are a few tips to create a successful rooftop garden.
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