Bengaluru

The hanging gardens of Bangalore

A rooftop garden can be the best place to relax. There are many good reasons why rooftop gardening could be the best getaway place for the people of cosmo Bangalore. It not only increase

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A rooftop garden can be the best place to relax. There are many good reasons why rooftop gardening could be the best getaway place for the people of cosmo Bangalore.

It not only increases access to private outdoor green space, be it at home or at work but also act as ecological oasis in the city, keeping the air fresh and full of oxygen apart from insulating buildings against extreme heat and cold.

Rooftop gardening is not like normal gardening.

It needs a detailed plan. Remember that a rooftop garden requires a lot of sun.

Also the floor must be strong and before planting the garden, check the nature of the roof. Plastic sheeting on the roof is required where the garden containers are put. Concrete surface is mostly the best suited part for roof gardens. Lightweight planting medium is most often used and are generally designed for containers.

Once you have outlined a blueprint for your roof garden, the next step is the choosing of plants. Fibre-rooted plants are preferred for roof gardening than plants with tap root system. The building must be able to manage its weight. Tap-rooted plants may grow through the building, thereby causing harm to it. Also note that the plants on the roof are exposed to severe heat or direct sunlight and also strong winds. Hence select plants that can withstand wind and also retain water. Roof gardens look good if they are proportionate with lawns, shrubs, ground covers and small trees. You can also incorporate the concept of water garden or rock garden or create a shady structure on your roof garden.

Make sure there are adequate drainage holes at the bottom of your containers and add a couple of inches of small rocks and pebbles in the bottom. A major benefit of roof top garden is that it retains and manages rain water. Roofs with gardens on top absorb as much as 75 percent of rainfall.

This dramatically reduces the run-offs, and thus, lowering the risk for floods. As we all know, plants absorb carbon dioxide in the air and fill it with oxygen. Plants can also trap up to 90 percent of airborne particles in the leaves.

The right time to water the plants is in the evening, so that the plants are moist and tilt. Watering of plants everyday is essential, as it would lead to a better and easy growth of plants. Poke your finger one inch deep into the soil to check if the plants need water. And while watering, see to it the water is supplied as much as it requires, because excess supply of water may cause damage to the garden.

When it rains, the furniture that you have on the rooftop will get wet. In order to avoid the situation, use plastic furniture or erect a plastic canopy over the seating area. You can also hang potted plants from the sides of the canopy, if the roof is strong enough. Lighting is usually not required, but if you want to use the garden when it is dark, then fix lights or candles. You could also use solar energy to run the lights.

So, start gardening and make the best use of the neglected part of your house.

By gardening your roof or terrace you can also create your own roof garden and have a beautiful outlook.

bngexpresso@expressbuzz.com

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