Roof Gardens

When you think of decorative roofs, weather vanes and fancy chimneys might come to mind, but what could be more decorative than a roof garden? Plump ripe vegetables and bright bursting flowers make a garden a beautiful and beneficial rooftop addition. 

The most obvious perk of having veggies growing on your roof is the quick and easy access to fresh produce. Instead of making the drive to the grocery store for a can of green beans, you can grow your own at home. Not only is it more convenient, it is also more satisfying knowing that you produced your produce. Growing your own vegetables is also more economical than buying them from the store.

A roof garden offers other economic benefits as well. Having sun-loving leafy greens on top of your roof can cut down on the cost of cooling your home. Those little photosynthesizers can help absorb the sun's rays that would otherwise heat your home when you want it nice and cool. So while you are saving money by not cranking the air conditioner, you are conserving energy at the same time. Not only is a rooftop garden good for your wallet, it's also good for the planet. This can be especially beneficial in cities.

The number of cars and machinery in larger cities can affect the overall quality of the air. Exhaust and fumes add extra carbon into the air. Plants take in carbon dioxide and produce oxygen, which helps improve the quality of air you breathe. So while you are in your garden picking delicious vegetables you can breathe in delicious oxygen at the same time.

It's hard to find enough space for a garden downtown, so a rooftop can offer an ideal spot for a community garden. Community gardens are a great way to bring neighbors together. Multiple people contributing to a garden increases the output of the garden and also decreases the labor for the individual. Also, multiple people having a hand in something creates a sense of unity. The benefits that a roof garden offers combined with the benefits of a community garden makes city gardening an appealing possibility.

Your first step when considering a roof garden is to call a professional contractor to determine whether your roof is a good choice for a garden, structurally speaking. While any roof garden should be planned to be light weight, some roofs just won't support the weight of a garden, and you need to know that ahead of time.