You can transform a flat, tar roof into a lovely outdoor haven with container plantings.
A well-planned rooftop garden can also provide habitat for local wildlife and mitigate
storm-water runoff. Here's what you need to know to start one of your own.
But many city dwellers either rent or own an apartment in a shared building,
and roof rights are not always included. Before you do anything else, be sure
to check with your landlord, co-op board, condo organization, or building
superintendent to determine what, if any, roof access you are granted.
If you skip this step and try to surreptitiously plant containers on your roof,
you are likely to regret it. An angry landlord or super may drag all your hard work
to the dumpster—or worse, you may find yourself liable for damage or injury.
At the same time, learn as much as you can about the roof’s general condition as
well as any upcoming maintenance requirements. This may be the year your roof is
scheduled for repainting, for example. You don’t want to invest in expensive and
hard-to-move planters or other structures that the roofers would have to clear away.
Once you’ve secured your roof space, assess the site just as you would when establishing
a ground-level garden. You’ll also want to plan how to address various site challenges.
(more than six hours of direct sunlight a day), but if yours is shaded by
neighboring buildings most of the day, you’ll be better off growing shade-loving plants.
If your roof is painted black, it will be significantly hotter than a white or silver
roof—black roofs in New York City can reach 170°F on a very hot day—and you’ll need
plants that can survive such scorching temperatures.
so a rooftop water supply is essential. Many gardeners use drip irrigation
fed from roof-level spigots because of the intense watering needs of wind-
and sun-exposed roof plants. If there’s no spigot, you could place a rooftop
rain barrel on your roof, but before you do, take into account the weight of
a full cistern, find a secure place to put it, and clear it with your landlord
or coop board.
A well-planned rooftop garden can also provide habitat for local wildlife and mitigate
storm-water runoff. Here's what you need to know to start one of your own.
 |
| A small urban rooftop container garden. Photo by Laura Berman. |
Site Considerations
It goes without saying that in order to grow a roof garden, you must have a roof.But many city dwellers either rent or own an apartment in a shared building,
and roof rights are not always included. Before you do anything else, be sure
to check with your landlord, co-op board, condo organization, or building
superintendent to determine what, if any, roof access you are granted.
If you skip this step and try to surreptitiously plant containers on your roof,
you are likely to regret it. An angry landlord or super may drag all your hard work
to the dumpster—or worse, you may find yourself liable for damage or injury.
 |
| Re-purposed items like wading pools care good bets for rooftop container gardens. The stacked buckets have been fashioned into self-watering planters. Photo by Laura Berman. |
At the same time, learn as much as you can about the roof’s general condition as
well as any upcoming maintenance requirements. This may be the year your roof is
scheduled for repainting, for example. You don’t want to invest in expensive and
hard-to-move planters or other structures that the roofers would have to clear away.
Once you’ve secured your roof space, assess the site just as you would when establishing
a ground-level garden. You’ll also want to plan how to address various site challenges.
Sun and Heat
Make note of the site’s light exposure. Most roofs receive full sun(more than six hours of direct sunlight a day), but if yours is shaded by
neighboring buildings most of the day, you’ll be better off growing shade-loving plants.
If your roof is painted black, it will be significantly hotter than a white or silver
roof—black roofs in New York City can reach 170°F on a very hot day—and you’ll need
plants that can survive such scorching temperatures.
Water Supply and Drainage
During the growing season, most rooftop container plants need daily watering,so a rooftop water supply is essential. Many gardeners use drip irrigation
fed from roof-level spigots because of the intense watering needs of wind-
and sun-exposed roof plants. If there’s no spigot, you could place a rooftop
rain barrel on your roof, but before you do, take into account the weight of
a full cistern, find a secure place to put it, and clear it with your landlord
or coop board.
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