Hello AT,
We are trying to make our roof a bit more user-friendly to enjoy the nice weather. The two things that would help the most are some kind of fence so we aren't face to face with our neighbors, and some type of lightweight planters with extremely hardy plants (the wind is strong up there).
Ideally an automated water system would be involved. We don't want to spend a lot--just the most simply, sturdy solution. We tried DIY last summer and everything toppled and broke apart due to the wind. Who can we turn to?
Thanks! Nell
We have to refer this question to SKGR for a good answer, but here is where we would look:
(Thanks, Nell!) MGR
I'm taking an urban garden design class at the BBG as we speak, and the teacher highly recommended a cheapo watering system available at the Ace Hardware in Tribeca. I don't remember the name, but apparently the manager is an ex-student and makes sure the store is well-stocked with gardening stuff.
Also, a tip for making your planters more lightweight is to fill the bottom 20% or so with packing peanuts (also great for drainage).
If you're just going to have decorative plants (i.e. not a serious veg garden), go for drought-tolerant ones like sedums/succulents, some grasses, and Mediterranean herbs like lavender, santolina and rosemary. A good tip is to look for plants with very small and/or silver foliage--they tend to need less water.
good luck!
I've read that the ideal rooftop plants are perennial alpine plants, or plants suitable for rock-gardens - usually low-growing, very wind, sun and drought resistant. If you look for these type of plants you'll find all sorts of interesting shapes, colors, great flowers and fun foliage. Sedum is one common example, and stuff from Central Asia & Siberia (I have a central Asian alpine daisy in my rock garden with blue lacy leaves. The flower buds are dark red, then open to bright white. It blooms all summer and survives the winter.) Poppies, such as the smaller Icelandic poppies, are very hardy, and bloom early and last a long time.
Large wicker baskets or hampers lined with garbage bags (prick holes for drainage) make cheap lightweight natural-looking planters.
Terra cotta pots aren't a good idea for windy places. The wind will suck the moisture right out of the container. You'll want something that's either are glazed or made of plastic or metal--a less porous material to protect the moisture in the soil, in other words. Otherwise you'll have no time to sit and relax for all the watering you'll be doing!
I can;t recall the name..but they were featured on this old house a while ago.
They are these silicon sticks ...well perhaps more like gel (It's really sort of hard to explain) about 2 in in diameter and 8-10 inches long.
You place them in the ground and as they break down they provide the same benefits watering would for a 30 days supply.
They are meant to be used for when you leave on vacation and won't be around to water your plants however..I think they could be used in a year round situation.
I can't speak for costs though.
You can get willow fencing at a much better price than Gardner's Supply Catalog. Try www.improvementscatalog.com.
I recently got a Terrazza planter at gardeners.com for my balcony. It's a self watering system so you don't have to worry about watering plants as often (I'm growing vegi's/herbs) and it has wheels. There's no worry about drainage either because there is a massive reservoir at the bottom. I also got really light potting soil which helps.
All the fencing I see seems to be intended for installation with posts in the ground. Obviously that is not possible with a roofdeck. Does anyone know of reasonably sturdy free-standing fencing for use on a roofdeck?
There's a British show called The City Gardener on HGTV at 11 or so, California time, Saturday nights. The gardener -- I think his name is Jamie -- just did a show with this exact theme a couple of weeks ago. I wish I could remember the wind-resistant plants he used, and exactly what type of fabric he used for a screen, but I can't and I've already deleted it from Tivo. Perhaps you could check out the HGTV website, or try to catch the episode if it airs again?
If you have DTV I think HGTV on demand is channel 1059? (somewhere betwean 1032 and 1080)
this is probably too late but the best book on rooftop/terrace gardening is called "Container Gardening" by a former NYT writer. She was the first person to focus on gardening in the city. it's an awesome book! it's my bible for my terrace. you'll love it.