Frugal Hacks and Homesteading Box Set: Guide to Saving Money on All of Your Household Needs (Frugal Living) by Michael Hansen

Author:Michael Hansen [Hansen, Michael]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-06-11T05:00:00+00:00

Rooftop Gardens. If you live in an apartment or townhouse with roof access, rooftop gardens may be ideal for you! Rooftops generally have excellent sunlight exposure and offer more space than a small balcony.

Tips and Benefits for Using Rooftop Gardens:

Cool off. Dark rooftops absorb and radiate heat making it more difficult to cool your apartment or townhouse. By adding plants to the roof area, you can reduce the temperature of your roof. Plants provide shade and provide evaporation of water both of which help cool the roof surface. You can grow your own food and reduce the cooling costs of your home!

Consider the condition of the roof. Does the roof have a waterproof membrane? Does it leak? What is the structural capacity of the roof? Can you add a few containers or will it support frames of soil and massive plantings? Does the landlord approve? What kind of access do you have to the roof? Will you be able to get supplies to the garden? Is water available on the roof?

Determine the weight of the garden. Calculate the weight of the wooden frames, containers, soil and water. Can the roof support that weight? If not consider scaling back the number of planters you use. Remember that a gallon of water stored in a tank weigh about 8 pounds.

Drainage. A sustainable benefit to rooftop gardens is that they absorb rain and reduce the amount of rainwater that enters the sewage system. With minor modifications you should be able to use existing downspouts and gutters to drain excess water.

Maintenance. Rooftop gardens need to be watered, fertilized and weeded like any garden. Remember that you need to frequently inspect down spots and gutters to ensure adequate, unclogged drainage. If the drainage system becomes blocked, water will accumulate. Your plants may get root rot and the roof may start to leak.

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