Living in a densely populated area and don’t have enough land to create a garden? Then this is the perfect time to get acquainted with rooftop gardens. This planting method has long been used in developed countries, such as China and Japan, as a solution to land limitations in densely populated residential areas. However, this method has not yet been widely adopted in Indonesia, even though the required investment is quite affordable and can be easily achieved, as long as the steps are followed correctly and quality products are used. If you’re interested in creating a rooftop garden at home with a limited budget, check out the full explanation in the article below!
Easy Ways to Create a Rooftop Garden at Home
The first step you need to take to create a rooftop garden is to make sure there is an empty area on top of your house, whether it’s a flat roof or a balcony, that can be turned into a green space. Choose an empty area that gets at least 6 hours of sunlight a day, which is the ideal amount for plant growth. Be sure to check in advance whether the roof structure has the ideal load-bearing capacity to support the weight of the small garden to be built. However, if the area to be used is relatively small and light, this inspection step can be skipped, especially if there are no plans to add heavy elements such as large pots or permanent structures.
1. Designate a Special Planting Zone and Choose Affordable Materials
To save money, focus on a minimalist design and first determine the specific area that will be used as a special zone for planting. After that, prepare the materials needed to create the planting area and choose affordable, yet quality materials, such as used plastic paint buckets or recycled wooden crates.
2. Prepare the Right Irrigation System and Planting Media
Planting media and irrigation systems are also important aspects that must be considered so that plants can grow well in limited areas without causing leaks, especially to the building structure below. For this reason, you need to prepare a base layer consisting of Sika as waterproofing, followed by drainage cells and non-woven geotextile as a coating for the planting area before adding the planting media. Although it is quite expensive on the market, Sika material is a highly recommended option. This is because Sika is liquid and can seep into the pores of concrete and form a strong protective barrier against water, making it ideal for use as effective waterproofing.
3. Create a Waterproofing Base Layer
Next, let’s focus on the planting zone, which we will create in 4 main layers. In order to produce an optimal green area, install the first or base layer in that area with sika as waterproofing. In practice, many contractors use No Drop waterproofing because it is inexpensive. However, this material is not recommended for long-term use because it can crack or tear if continuously exposed to sunlight. Not only that, but No Drop requires periodic reapplication, especially if exposed to prolonged UV rays. As a result, the total maintenance cost for the base layer can be higher than Sika. Therefore, it is better to invest in Sika initially than to deal with routine repairs due to ineffective waterproofing.
4. Continue with the Drainage Cell Layer
Then, directly above the Sika layer, add a drainage cell, which is a plastic layer with a grid-like structure that serves to ensure that rainwater or excess water from watering plants can flow smoothly into the drainage channels. Without this layer, water used to water plants or rainwater will risk pooling, which can increase the risk of overloading the roof structure and leaks from the top of the building.
5. Add a Non-Woven Geotextile Layer
If the drainage cells are successfully installed, then add a non-woven geotextile layer. This material plays a major role in filtering the soil so that it does not fall down and clog the drainage system. This allows water to continue flowing through the geotextile, but soil particles are retained, so that the planting medium remains in place and does not flow down.
6. Complete with Quality Planting Media
When all layers are properly installed, the last step is to cover them with quality planting media or a place for plants to grow. You can mix local soil with organic compost to reduce operational costs. If you have a larger budget, you can try using a mixture of fertile soil, compost, and husks to keep it loose and rich in nutrients. Find Materials for Creating a Rooftop Garden at Home Only at Urban Plastic.
The key to creating a rooftop garden at home an effective, leak-free, and durable rooftop garden at home is to use the right materials. To do this, be sure to only purchase sika, drainage mats, and non-woven geotextiles from Urban Plastic.
For more information about Geotextile Non Woven please contact: Whatsapp/Mobile Phone: +62 8173 91338 (Ms. Imel) or Email : info@baligeotex.com