Terrace greens
To enjoy the rains with a cup of tea on your terrace, give it a makeover with lush green plants, pretty planters, decorative items and outdoor furniture
When clouds send down their messengers in the form of rain, the first place they land at is your terrace. And if you happen to have a beautiful garden there, it becomes a picture perfect moment. However, it is not as simple as it sounds because our skillfully manicured garden at times bears the brunt of heavy showers. So it becomes all the more essential to maintain them with extra care during the rain.
Maintenance of a terrace garden is not very different from that of a balcony or a regular garden. All it needs is clever planning, durable structure, and some useful additions like sheds and waterproofing.
The roof in a terrace garden is of utmost importance, so begin from there. Ensure that the roof is strong enough to hold the weight during the rain and otherwise also. Keep limited number of potted plants on the terrace, which you can maintain and move physically in case of heavy downpour.
The second most important thing to focus on is to have a proper drainage system. Keep a thorough check on your drainage lines at regular intervals. Remember it’s a terrace garden; even a small blockage in the drainage system can cause problems in the pipelines, and c o ns e q uently harm the structure of the building or lead to seepage. Those who have gardens on their terrace can invite dusty watermarks, pool of dirt and germs during monsoon. Here are a few suggestions on stain- free gardening tips:
On the top level of the walls, place one inch edged out marble/ granite with tapered double molding. This will keep the wall safe and water will travel half an inch away from the wall, thus walls remain clean.
On the roof, get the joints of stones filled with waterproof solutions or white cement to avoid seepage. Use anti- cockroach trap to bar cockroach entry through drains and thus into your homes.
There are latest products in market like window grills, bamboo chiks etc. which prevent water from flooding your balconies or the shed under which you keep your plants. Opt for them to save your foliage from excess rainwater.
Invest in good quality planters. Mud pots that dissolve in rain are not apt.
Make sure to opt for durable outdoor furniture in metal for balconies and terrace. They look classy, withstand the rain and look good all year around. Invest in movable furniture.
Remember that plants need sunlight as well as shade. Keep shifting them in and out according to the weather condition of the day.
Once set, enjoy a hot tea on your terrace garden or balcony and get refreshed.
Maintenance of terrace garden needs durable structure, sheds and waterproofing Keep limited number of potted plants on the terrace, which you can maintain and move physically in case of heavy downpour