outdoor living WHY NOT
Install an irrigation system to water your rooftop garden. It will make a dramatic difference, saving you time and helping maintain the health of plants: it gets incredibly hot on a roof.
UP ON THE ROOF AS WELL AS CREATING FRESH ENTERTAINING SPACE, ROOFTOP GARDENS ALSO DO THEIR BIT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, SAYS JAMIE DURIE.
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Consult a professional. While most rooftop surfaces can be transformed into gardens, there are many technical things to consider.
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PHOTOGRAPHY Jennifer Soo
ooftop gardens not only look amazing and improve wellbeing, they play an important environmental role. Our heat-absorbing cities are much better off with cooling, cleansing plants injected into them wherever possible. Rooftop greenery adds insulation, creates habitats for birds and insects and improve air quality. Blair Swan and Hamish Duncan wanted to convert their unused terrace roof into an entertaining space, with different zones that could be used for different occasions. They wanted to transform the 70 square metres into a garden utopia for themselves and their cat, Sam. Living in Sydney’s inner-city Redfern, they knew that building a well-designed, sophisticated rooftop garden would require many considerations, so they brought in landscape designer, Adam Robinson. Before the transformation, the rooftop was light beige, and very hot and glary: “We never used the space,” says Swan. “Now, I literally live out here, and we’re barefoot all the time.” When designing a rooftop space, it’s vital to include shady areas, says Robinson. “If you don’t create shade, you won’t use the space.” And, of course, plants need to be hardy to deal with the harsh natural elements. Choosing lovely variations in foliage colour and texture will keep things interesting.
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Produced by Nadine Bush. For more, see gardenlife.com.au; spenceandlyda.com.au; madebytait.com.au; robertplumb.com.au
TRY
Choosing plants that will cope with a lot of sunshine and sometimes very windy conditions. Australian natives and drought-tolerant plants work well. Ask your nursery specialist.
LOVING
Helping your hip pocket as well as the environment: adding a rooftop garden will add value to your property as well as your lifestyle, wellbeing and entertaining options.
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The lyrics to James Taylor’s Up On The Roof sum up the vibe. “On the roof, it’s peaceful as can be, and there the world below don’t bother me …”
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