This rooftop garden landscape design NYC is located in Manhattan’s West Village. The garden features custom fencing with built-in lighting, ipe (pronounced e-pay) planter boxes, deck tiles, a shade sail, and black fiberglass planters. Container plantings for this NYC terrace design include bamboo, ornamental grasses, hydrangea trees, purple coneflower, weigela, creeping Jenny, and heathers.
Ipe is a hardwood with a 40+-year life expectancy. It resists scratching and lives longer than cedar, which has a 15-20 year life expectancy. Using ipe is a smart investment because it also helps boost property values. The resale value of an outdoor space built from ipe is higher because people know it will last longer than many other types of wood.
Ipe can be oiled with a Penofin finish, as shown here, to bring out the natural red tones in the wood. Ipe cannot be painted or stained, unlike cedar. If left untreated, ipe, like all outdoor wood, eventually weathers to a natural grey color.
Pro Tip:
BE A DRIP
When it comes to city gardens, especially sunny roof gardens and terraces, drip irrigation systems are a must and will save you lots of money in the long run. Container plants need more water than plants in the ground, and will need to be watered once or twice a day in the summer. Drip irrigation ensures accurate, thorough watering that will greatly reduce the likelihood of having to spend money on replacement plants each year.
