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Things to keep in mind when designing and building a rooftop or balcony garden

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Gardening is one of the best hobbies and an instant mood booster. Growing trees and plants not only benefits the environment but also has a positive impact on our emotional and mental health. With cities expanding constantly, and our personal living space becoming smaller, having a rooftop or balcony garden is a great way to keep up with your hobby. Apart from creating a garden, take a  home insurance policy to protect your home and its contents against unforeseen events. A home insurance plan covers damages due to natural calamities, fire, electrical breakdown, theft, and man-made hazards and saves you from financial distress.

Keep in mind these tips for designing and building your balcony or  rooftop garden

• Get approval:  This is important to avoid any legal issues. If you are living in a rented house or building complex, take necessary permissions before you build a garden.

• Check the foundation:  Certain pots or planters can be heavy, mostly when you fill them with soil, manure, and fertilizers. This increases the gross weight of each planter. If you have a spacious balcony or rooftop, you may want to cover the entire area with multiple planters. However, before you start creating a rooftop or balcony garden, check if the structure is sturdy enough for the additional weight. Take the help of an expert for this. Even if the structure is sturdy enough, it is wise to cover not more than half of the space for safety reasons.

• Waterproof the roof or balcony:  Before you start creating a rooftop or balcony garden, waterproof the area to make it water-resistant. This is important to prevent leakage and damage to the building. You can either take the help of an expert or buy waterproofing products from the market and waterproof space on your own.

• Adequate drainage:  Your rooftop or balcony garden should have sufficient drainage to prevent rain or irrigation water from collecting there. If you plan to do plantation directly on the terrace floor, you should install drainage cells before putting the soil layer. Also, choose a drip irrigation system over conventional methods for the best results. 

• Choose container gardening:  Rather than installing expensive drainage cells, you can have a series of pots, tubs, troughs, and drums for gardening. The pots and other containers should be placed on bricks or wedges for easy drainage and air circulation through the soil.

• Select the soil and fertilizer:  A perfect soil mix has regular soil, vermicompost, and sand in the right proportion. You can easily find this premix in a nearby nursery. A plant’s health and growth depend a lot on the soil mix you use, so make sure you get the right combination for the plants you wish to grow.

• Install a shade:  A rooftop garden will be exposed to sunlight for long hours every day, which may not be ideal for specific plants. Therefore, it is vital to install a shade to prevent the plants from withering.

• Electrical wiring:  While this is not essential for a rooftop garden, you can have a waterproof power outlet for operating power tools and lighting.

• Storage:  When you have a rooftop or balcony garden, you need some space to keep the gardening tools, fertilizer, gloves, hose, and more. If you do not have provision for these in your house, you can add small storage in your rooftop furniture.

• Choose the plants:  Once you have everything in place, choose the plants you want to grow. You should also decide on the theme and style of your garden, select furniture for the garden, and install lights. 

• Pest management:  Ants, bugs, aphids, and other pests often feed on plants. A severe pest infestation can spoil your entire garden, so look for the right pest control methods to keep your garden healthy and beautiful.

Benefits of having a rooftop or balcony garden

• You can enjoy fresh fruits, vegetables, and greens

• Gardening helps relieve stress and is excellent for your mental health

• It keeps you active, burns calories, and improves fitness

• Gardening under the sun helps you get your daily dose of vitamin D

• A rooftop or terrace reduces indoor temperature and enables you to save on air conditioning costs

Conclusion:

Having a balcony or rooftop garden is probably one of the best ways to connect with nature in a city. You can grow your choice of flowers, fruits, and vegetables in your small garden and create a beautiful space. However, make sure you spend at least half an hour every day in your rooftop or balcony garden for watering the plants, weeding, and other tasks. Also, take the right  home insurance policy to cover the structure and the contents of your property against natural calamities, accidental damage, fire, and other unforeseen situations. 

Disclaimer:  The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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