Gardening is one of the most relaxing hobbies anyone can have. You sow a seed, water it, take care of it, and watch it grow into a flowery or a fruity plant. It can be a vegetable too, well depends on what you’re growing. If you have a roof and thinking about turning it into a roof garden, then you should carefully choose the best plants for it.
People give little thought to the kinds of plants they should keep in their roof garden and end up getting the wrong ones. Many people could rarely take out time for gardening in their daily lives and can’t really do much research on suitable plants.
If you’re considering building a roof garden, then you are in the right place. Here we will discuss the best plants you can plant directly on your roof or in a pot as well.
So without wasting any time, let’s get gardening!
4 Types of Plants You Must Have in Your Roof Garden
Many beginners end up growing or buying just one or multiple of the same plants for their roof garden. We wouldn’t call it bad but it is sort of boring and is like wasting an opportunity to have a variety of plants.
To save you from filling your roof with just green leaves or vines, we have created a list of diverse, easy-to-grow plants on the roof.
1. Vegetables & Fruits
Just to be clear, vegetables and fruits require a lot of care. For beginners, you can start by growing salads i.e. radishes, cucumbers, and tomatoes & cherry tomatoes because they are easy to grow.
However, in case you want to grow some other fruits & vegetables like ladyfingers, chilies, or strawberries, you have to spend time gardening every now and then. You have to take out around half an hour a day to do the gardening chores such as pruning, watering, fertilizing, and pinching the plants.
Do all the things according to the needs of your plants so they grow well.
2. Flowers
Nothing can go wrong with flowers. If you want to grow flowers, then your roof garden could be a perfect place to grow them.
The easiest flowers to grow on your roof garden are tulips, hyacinths, and primroses. They just require regular monitoring.
If it is usually warm where you live, then you can plant flowers such as hibiscus and roses. In summer, you can grow pansies, begonias, petunias, and other exotic flowers as well.
3. Herbs
The gardening craze usually begins with herbs as they’re easy to grow.
The most common herb that people usually grow is basil, and that too just on their kitchen window. If you’re into cooking or just casually making salads as evening snacks then you should definitely grow some herbs in your roof garden.
A few of the easiest and must-have herbs are rosemary, lavender, thyme, and sage. They don’t require much watering and can grow on a sunlit porch, verandah, or balcony without much extensive care.
On the other hand, you can grow basil, parsley, cilantro, and chive with some modest watering and sunlight. You can grow a wide variety of herbs in your roof garden.
A fun tip is that you can place them around your house as Home décor as well.
4. Small Trees, Shrubs, and Vines
You surely won’t be able to grow an oak tree on your terrace. However, if you’ve got a decent terrace, then you should consider growing shrubs, small trees, and vines.
The trick is to grow rhododendrons, honeysuckles, Japanese maples, camellias, and sweet autumn clematis on spots with less direct sunlight. On the other hand, you can grow an olive tree, flowering viburnum, and oleanders.
You can also grow small fruit trees like guavas, figs, pomegranates, apples, or even mango trees if your weather lets you do so. Anyhow, keep checking the humidity levels and rapid growth of certain vines as well. Water them as needed and you’re good to go.
Pro Tip: Choice of Pots & Containers Matter
You have to consider the type of container, tray, or pot keeping multiple things in mind. For instance, you have to see if the kind of pot, tray, or container matches with your home & garden aesthetics and meets the plant’s requirements as well. and
You can get the traditional terracotta pots as they are good for almost all seasons, but they are heavier and expensive. You can visit the nearby garden or nursery and find a variety of different material pots such as polyester resins, wood, metal, and concrete. Adding some bright-colored pots in darker areas could give your roof garden a good vibe.
Ending Note
These were a few plants you should get for your terrace garden as soon as possible. Anyhow, don’t forget to renew the soil and add new compost or manure to the pots periodically. Take good care of the plants and you will have a beautiful garden on your roof in no time.
