Methods of Rooftop Gardening

Understanding about the terrace/roof garden construction is very essential if you want to create an amazing garden on the terrace.

There are three methods by which rooftop garden construction can be done

• Make a container garden on the terrace
• Grow plants in permanent or concrete or wooden made raised beds.
• Make whole or selected part of the roof a vegetation ground.

Let us see how to make a vegetation ground for roof gardening

Waterproofing Layer

The 1st step of making a strong vegetation ground is to make it waterproof and durable. Whether one grows plants on containers, raised beds or on the roof, it is very important to waterproof the roof to protect it from leaking. Waterproofing helps in covering the entire roofs, especially where plants will be planted.

Insulation Layer

The second layer is the insulation layer that makes a terrace garden resistant to moisture and temperature fluctuations. Not just that it provides mechanical strength to adjust to the roof. The insulation layers are made of XPS extruded polystyrene boards, PIR panels or polyurethane foam. The PIR panels have the special characteristics that are well suited for a layer of insulation on the roof garden. The grooves and milled edge connections in them allow rainwater to pass through the drainage system.

Drainage Layer

This layer quickly discharges the excess rainwater from vegetation layer into the drainage system. The excess water is further collected and saved.

Geotextile Layer

Separating the drainage layer and the soil in which plants grow is a crucial element in roof gardening. This is done by using Geotextile fabric layer. The layer protects the drainage system from getting clogged with soil deposit and other fine particles. Changes have to be made to make Geotextile layer waterproofed and vapour-permeable, chemically and biologically resistant and mechanically robust. This will facilitate in rotation of the moisture to halt the reduction of water speedily from the vegetation layer.

The vegetation Layer

The last layer is the soil in which you grow the plants is called as the Vegetation layer. The soil should be water absorptive and should have good air circulation. Depending on the kind of plants you wish to grow the preparation of the soil is done. To make the soil fertile and slightly acidic just mix garden soil, humus, farm manure/compost and organic matter.