Planning a Rooftop or Balcony Container Garden

It is a great feeling to be able to grow your own food and plants. There’s something special about cultivating life with your hands. Many people are able to enjoy this privilege, but some people don’t have the outdoor space. There are still options for some of those people. If there is a balcony or flat rooftop available to you, you can still make a garden with a collection of plants and vegetables containers, instead of in the ground. Once you’ve chosen and approved the area, picked which plants you’ll grow, and arranged your planters accordingly, your container garden will be underway!

Location

If you are trying to build a container garden on a rooftop or balcony, the first, and most important, thing you must consider is the strength of your structure. Building a garden can become very heavy, very quickly. Once all of the soil and planters have been installed and watered, we’re looking at hundreds and hundreds of pounds. When you have a desired area, it is best to consult with a structural engineer to be sure your rooftop or balcony can handle the weight of your new garden. Also, when choosing which planters to use, opt for strong, but lightweight materials that will be able to handle the pressure of the soil, but will not add unnecessary weight.

Choosing Your Plants

One of the most enjoyable parts of planning a garden is choosing which plants you will grow. There are endless possibilities. There are guaranteed to be more varieties of vegetables and flowers than you ever thought you could have. When you are choosing which seeds and sprouts to collect, be sure to consider your climate and weather conditions. You may really want to grow strawberries, but if strawberries won’t do well in your environment, it’s best to try something else. Gardens are obviously very sensitive to the effects of nature. Timing and proper planning are key.

Choosing and Arranging Planters

As mentioned before, planter choice is fairly important. For a rooftop or a balcony, you don’t want to choose planters that will contribute an unnecessary amount of weight. You will also want to consider the needs of your plants. Some plants need certain depths to thrive, and some need a lot of space to spread out. There are a wide range of planters and containers, many that come in sets of multiple sizes and shapes. Be sure to choose planters that your structure can hold, and where you plants can grow freely.

A lack of yard space doesn’t have to mean a lack of garden space. If you have a garden or an accessible rooftop, you have options for growing plants at your home, too! All it takes is a little planning, and you can have a perfect garden in planters and containers. Approve your location, choose your plants, and pick out the right planters, and you’ll be growing your own food in no time!