"I live in the garden, I just sleep in the house" by Jim Long
In this article
Plants | Tools | Soil | Waterproofing | Fertilizers | Landscaping | Maintainace | Advantages | Investment
Do you crave your own garden and a pesticide-free meal on your plate? Is the lack of land preventing you from getting your hands dirty and growing your own food? Well, here is the solution. Along with providing healthy, non-toxic food on your table it also gives city dwellers their own green oasis in the middle of a concrete jungle. Let's approach the big question " How to start terrace gardening?".
We will answer all the questions you need to know before starting your terrace garden from scratch, so hop in!
What kind of plants can be grown in the terrace garden?
Everything can grow in a terrace garden, from veggies, herbs, shrubs, microgreens, trees to flowers - anything that you want. Isn't it amazing to grow what you eat? If you are a beginner, then you can start with growing leafy veggies like radish, spinach, coriander, etc. These vegetables can be grown in any season and with minimal effort.
You can also start your gardening journey by choosing the perfect plants from our wide range of Seed Collection.
Tools and containers required for terrace Gardening?
Care of even the smallest garden requires some specialized tools and equipment. With a wide range available at online garden stores, we know it's easy to be lost, so spend some time considering your needs before that precious purchase. The range of tools required will largely depend on the size and type of garden you have in mind. For example, a keen vegetable grower often tends to purchase a gardening toolset that includes a fork, shade, trowel, and secateurs.
Containers that can hold soil securely can be used as garden containers. Having watertight sides and a fairly stable base can ensure that it won't easily be knocked over. A fine container can resist rot and corrosion, and have one or more drainage holes. It can range from classic terracotta pots to colorful ceramics, plastic pots that are easy to clean and light to handle. The latter is durable and requires less frequent watering than terracotta pots.
Fun fact: grow bags are the chic new alternative available in the market for terrace gardening.
How to prepare the soil for the terrace Garden?
Like food is to the body, the soil is to plants! The key to grow healthy plants is to fill up the pot with nourished and conditioned soil. Soil can be mixed with organic compost for potting. While soil is just fine for gardens, it needs special care in the pot, neither too light nor too compact. Soil with a balanced texture that can preserve moisture and is light enough to provide air space is perfect for plants.
Picking the right soil mix
An ideal soil mix should hold enough water for good root growth and allow excess water to drain out at the same time. It also should contain a balance of nutrients to steadily nourish a wide variety of plants for healthy growth. The soil-less mixer usually contains coco peat, peat moss, vermiculite perlite, pumice stone depending on the plant requirements and moisture-holding capacity. In most cases, an all-purpose mix works fine.
Waterproofing the terrace to Prevent Damage, for terrace Gardening
Waterproofing is the base for terrace gardening. It is essential as the terrace surface tends to accumulate water from the containers, which in due course starts seeping inside the slab and can potentially damage the building. Over a period, the deterioration of the surface can increase; leading to more damage.
Waterproofing can be easily be done by applying waterproof polymer coating on the concrete slab/surface. Once the polymer coating is done, one can start planning for terrace gardening.
Know more about how to waterproof your terrace before terrace gardening.
What type of fertilizer to use in my terrace garden?
Plants need a balanced diet of nutrients in order to flourish. They use the essential elements in the soil quicker than they can be replenished naturally. A substantial amount of potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen (NPK) is amongst the major nutrients that contribute to maintaining the good health of fruits, vegetables, and flowers. Organic fertilizers are essentially matter derived from living organisms, be it animal or plant such as Bone meal, Hoofs, Horn meal, Neem cake, Pongamia cake, etc.
These are natural products generally slow-acting and unlikely to scratch foilage in comparison to inorganic fertilizers which may tend to be harmful when used inappropriately.
Phosphorus is needed for root development.
Nitrogen for healthy growth and foliage.
Potassium promotes disease resistance and produces healthy fruits and vegetables
Landscaping principles for designing terrace garden
Focal point: To give character to your terrace garden that attracts attention, like a small tree, a bonsai, a sculpture, water feature, or pebble garden, etc.
Unity in diversity: Mix and match different leaf textures, leaf colors, flowering plants in a way that breaks monotony yet looks unified.
For expert advice, ask a landscape architect.
Maintenance and care of terrace garden ( How to maintain my terrace garden?)
Watering
All plants need water and the various requirements of different plants need to be considered when planning a garden. If you live in an area of low rainfall or are gardening on a roof terrace exposed to drying winds, it is wise to consider drip irrigation to keep your soil moist.
Plants in containers lose water rapidly through evaporation. Grouping containers together will help in conserving moisture. As a guide, an adequate level of watering in summers on a fast-draining soil would be approximately 10-20 liters per sq. m, roughly two watering cans full.
Bugs and Pests
The most important thing you can do to prevent insect or disease outbreaks is to keep your plants healthy and vigorous. Give them sufficient light, fertilizers, and the correct amount of water and humidity. The trick to handling pests is identifying them correctly, so you can choose the most effective control measure. Few commonly found pests are Aphids, Fungus Gnats, Mealybugs, Mites, scales, whiteflies.
Protecting Terrace Garden from Heat
The climate in your terrace garden is of critical importance in determining what you can grow, and how well it will do. Few times even sun-loving plants can’t tolerate too much heat and need a little extra attention during the hottest months of the year. Taking action like watering your plants regularly, providing shade nets, adequate nutrient supply can help your plants in surviving the harsh summer heat.
Mulches
Topdressing and mulches are applied to the surface of the soil for several reasons. They help in plant growth in one or more ways like reducing moisture loss by evaporation, provide additional nutrients to the soil, enrich the humus content of the soil, and improve soil texture and workability. Some frequently used mulches are leaf mold mulch, woodchip mulch, coco chips, cocoa shells, gravels, pebbles, fiber flees.
FAQ’s
What are the advantages of a terrace garden?
Provides an uninterrupted supply of organic vegetables and makes you a proud urban farmer.
Having your own rooftop garden helps you bond with nature by keeping you away from stress and chaos thereby improving your mental wellbeing.
Indulging in the maintenance of your garden keeps you physically active and fit while giving you a sense of ownership.
Lowers the overall heat absorption of the building and reduces AC bills.
Additionally, adopting rainwater harvesting techniques can reduce your water loads too.
A rooftop garden can make your house look aesthetically appealing.
How should I prepare the layout of my terrace garden?
Take a piece of paper and jot down the different areas you want in your terrace garden for example separate areas for growing your veggies, flowers, and some space to unwind.
Keeping in mind the drainage, sunny, and shady areas, make a rough layout of the different spaces. Also, give thought to whether you're going to grow your greens in containers, raised beds, or on your terrace's vertical area.
How much investment do I need for a terrace garden?
All it would take is a one-time investment that can reap a lifetime supply of benefits. Once the setup is done, you only need care and maintenance of the terrace garden. Below are the listed things which can give a rough estimate of your investment :
Plant types: like microgreens, vegetables, flowering, etc
Container types: like Grow bags, Pots, etc
Watering System: Manual or automated
Shading Systems: like Shade nets
Special garden features: like Trellis or Water feature
Need for Waterproofing
Want to create a terrace garden without all the hassle?
The good news is: We're here to help!
Taking the help of a landscape designer can save your precious time and energy. Along with that, they can coordinate with other associated experts to deliver design solutions specific to your needs. Zero hassle and a gorgeous aesthetic terrace garden!
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