You’ve probably heard it before — rooftop gardens are leaky, costly, and an absolute pain to maintain. We’re here to tell you that these are misconceptions and nothing more. Keep reading as we debunk some of the most common rooftop garden myths.
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Myth No. 1 – Rooftop gardens are just a fad
This actually couldn’t be further from the truth. As we explained in “The History of Rooftop Gardens,” these spaces were first developed in ancient Mesopotamia by the ziggurats. Today, such gardens remain popular throughout New York City, especially on the roofs of local libraries and metropolitan restaurants.
This type of urban garden continues to evolve despite being around for centuries. There’s no need to worry about installing a rooftop garden only see it go out of style a year later. Rest assured that these spaces are here to stay.
Myth No. 2 – Rooftop gardens cause structural problems and leakage
This might be the biggest myth of the bunch. Just because a complex is dealing with a leaky roof doesn’t mean it can be attributed to the recently installed rooftop garden. Keep in mind that the leakage has to do with the installation and design specifications of the structure itself. So do yourself a favor and double-check the integrity of your roof before moving forward with the garden installation.
Myth No. 3 – Rooftop gardens are costly to maintain
Here’s the thing: All rooftop gardens require irrigation initially while plant roots establish themselves. After some time, though, maintenance costs should become more reasonable. Here at Amber Freda Landscape Design, we are your one-stop shop for landscape design and maintenance. Please don’t hesitate to ask about pruning, fertilizing, pest control, leaf cleanup, weeding, and other ongoing maintenance tasks.
Myth No. 4 – Rooftop gardens aren’t worth the time and money to install
“What’s the return on investment of a rooftop garden?” We are asked this question quite often. While we can’t exactly guarantee that the addition of a green space will add to your property’s value, we are confident in saying that this project offers plenty of bang for your buck. A well-designed rooftop garden is one that serves as a natural extension of your living space.
Prospective buyers and property managers alike will certainly appreciate the aesthetic and functional appeal of a rooftop garden.
Myth No. 5 – Anyone can design and install a rooftop garden
Sure, you can try turning this into a DIY project to save money. But do you really want to spend potentially hours seeing that your design is in accordance with your building’s code? On top of that, are you comfortable selecting planting schemes, furniture layouts, and custom features without the assistance of a professional? We’re guessing you probably don’t have the time for all of this.
Maybe the best piece of advice we can give you in this post is to invest in an experienced landscape design company. Amber Freda has more than 15 years of industry experience and gives every client the attention they deserve.
Contact us today to get started with your rooftop garden design.
