IMAGINE being cooped up in an office all day and then returning to your urban home and walking out on to a rooftop which has been transformed into a tapestry of colour, texture and calm.
Rooftop gardening can help combat climate change by lowering surrounding air temperatures, according to a recent RHS survey and, with this in mind, the organisation is encouraging urbanites to make the most out of their outdoor space and help the environment by growing plants.
"Getting planting right in urban spaces, which can be very limited, can have a major effect in not only helping reduce urban temperatures but will also provide other environmental benefits," says Tijana Blanusa, who undertook the RHS research.
Other benefits of green-roof gardening include heat-insulation, water-absorption, providing a safe environment for wildlife and soaking up pollution.
The RHS is showcasing two modern-style rooftop gardens designed by two rising stars, Hugo Bugg, RHS Young Designer of the Year 2010, and Melissa Jolly, winner of a BBC Gardeners' World 2010 award, at the RHS London Plant and Design Show on February 15 and 16.
Their designs are aspirational, but it's not impossible to create your own roof garden, whether you just want a few pots or a raised bed or two, or a more elaborate green carpet, providing your structure is secure. The RHS offers the following advice:. Before designing any addition to a property's roof check if planning permission is required.
. How much weight the roof can take? Large containers full of compost and plants weigh a considerable amount. There will be strict weight restrictions on balconies suspended out from the building.
. Check if the roof is waterproof, using the services of a chartered structural engineer or a surveyor. You may have to modify roof supports if the structural survey shows that support is insufficient.. Use an architect specialising in roof garden design for complex projects.
. Place heavy containers near load-bearing walls or over a load-bearing beam or joist as these can take more weight than unsupported areas.
. The main limitations of roof gardens and balconies are strong winds and sunshine. Take advantage of any existing protection, such as walls or fences, that provide shelter and shade.. Use slatted or mesh screens that simply filter the wind, creating a micro-climate for the plants within.. Containers will dry out rapidly in windy, hot weather so make sure they are a good width and depth.. Choose non-porous materials (plastic, metal and fibreglass) rather than terracotta as they reduce potential moisture-loss.. Ensure the container is lightweight and has ample drainage holes in the base.
. Some companies, such as Green Tech Ltd, offer a range of lightweight soils and composts suitable for roof gardening.. Use a layer of lightweight drainage material at the base of the container, such as polystyrene plant trays broken into 'crocks'.
. If weight is a consideration, fix the container down, so that it doesn't blow over in strong winds.
. Install an irrigation system where cost effective (in larger areas), ensuring excess run-off flows to a drainpipe outlet. In smaller areas, hand water as it's more accurate.
. Feed plants regularly. Controlled-release fertiliser in the compost is the easiest solution.. Top-dress pots annually replacing the top few centimetres with fresh compost.
. Liquid feed any annual plants used in plantings from May to September for best results.
GrowYourOwnCanefruit BARE-ROOTED cane fruits including blackberries, raspberries and hybrid berry canes can be planted up until the end of the month. You'll need to prepare the soil thoroughly by digging a trench along the proposed row and working in plenty of organic matter.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Chesapeake Montessori students take on gardening project
Students at Chesapeake Montessori School in Annapolis planted the first seeds of a sustainable vegetable gardening project that is part of the school's campus expansion program.
Garlic, spinach and lettuce were planted in large containers in late September, with assistance from Severn Grove Ecological Design.
The organic gardening project will ultimately include extensive in-ground vegetable plots where students will grow and harvest a wide range of produce to cook, eat and offer to the community.
The gardening project is designed to connect students to their environment and the community, while exploring the components of operating a small business.
- Effie Dawson, Chesapeake Montessori School
Garlic, spinach and lettuce were planted in large containers in late September, with assistance from Severn Grove Ecological Design.
The organic gardening project will ultimately include extensive in-ground vegetable plots where students will grow and harvest a wide range of produce to cook, eat and offer to the community.
The gardening project is designed to connect students to their environment and the community, while exploring the components of operating a small business.
- Effie Dawson, Chesapeake Montessori School
Alameda library focuses on gardening in March
Alameda Free Library is hosting a community-reading program through the month of March with the theme "Grow, Eat, and Read Local." Activities include free workshops and events for both adults and children.
The month of activities kicks off 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday with the grand opening of the Seed and Gardening Tool Lending Library at the Main Library. The aim of the lending library is for community members to learn about borrowing seeds and using gardening tools to increase healthy plant diversity in Alameda while helping residents cut costs.
The schedule and focus of the month's activities are based on the books "Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer" by Oakland author Novella Carpenter and "Seedfolks" by Paul Fleischman, who lives near Gilroy. Carpenter, who turned an abandoned Oakland lot into an area for raising fruits, vegetables, bees, pigs and other animals, will speak at the Main Library at 7 p.m. on March 31.
"We created the theme for the month's activities based on Carpenter's 'Farm City,' which is about backyard gardening," said librarian Karin Lundstrom. "And we really wanted to include local Bay Area authors who could come and talk to Alameda residents at the library."
In addition to Carpenter's presentation, other activities include workshops on seed saving, wreath-making crafts for kids, talks on local farming and gardening, movies and book discussions. Fleischman, whose book tells the story of how people of varying ages and backgrounds transform a trash-filled lot into a productive and beautiful garden, will lead a discussion of fourth- through-eighth-graders and others at 7 p.m. March 14 at the Main Library.
Some of the library workshops are being taught by staff from Ploughshares Nursery and members of Alameda Backyard Growers. The growing group will make a presentation on seasonal gardening in Alameda at 6 p.m. March 10 at the Main Library. And at 2 p.m. on March 13, Alameda gardener and recycler Matthew Levesque will share tips on creative and unexpected ways of using nontraditional materials to create beautiful landscapes.
Events on tap at the West End Library include a showing of the 90-minute film "Locavore" at 2 p.m. March 20. Bay Area author Elise Cooke will discuss how she feeds her family by eating locally and saves money on groceries at 7 p.m. March 23 at the Bay Farm Library.
"We hope to encourage the entire community to read a book and participate in this month's activities," said Lundstrom, "and are looking forward to the events."
The month of activities kicks off 5-7 p.m. on Tuesday with the grand opening of the Seed and Gardening Tool Lending Library at the Main Library. The aim of the lending library is for community members to learn about borrowing seeds and using gardening tools to increase healthy plant diversity in Alameda while helping residents cut costs.
The schedule and focus of the month's activities are based on the books "Farm City: The Education of an Urban Farmer" by Oakland author Novella Carpenter and "Seedfolks" by Paul Fleischman, who lives near Gilroy. Carpenter, who turned an abandoned Oakland lot into an area for raising fruits, vegetables, bees, pigs and other animals, will speak at the Main Library at 7 p.m. on March 31.
"We created the theme for the month's activities based on Carpenter's 'Farm City,' which is about backyard gardening," said librarian Karin Lundstrom. "And we really wanted to include local Bay Area authors who could come and talk to Alameda residents at the library."
In addition to Carpenter's presentation, other activities include workshops on seed saving, wreath-making crafts for kids, talks on local farming and gardening, movies and book discussions. Fleischman, whose book tells the story of how people of varying ages and backgrounds transform a trash-filled lot into a productive and beautiful garden, will lead a discussion of fourth- through-eighth-graders and others at 7 p.m. March 14 at the Main Library.
Some of the library workshops are being taught by staff from Ploughshares Nursery and members of Alameda Backyard Growers. The growing group will make a presentation on seasonal gardening in Alameda at 6 p.m. March 10 at the Main Library. And at 2 p.m. on March 13, Alameda gardener and recycler Matthew Levesque will share tips on creative and unexpected ways of using nontraditional materials to create beautiful landscapes.
Events on tap at the West End Library include a showing of the 90-minute film "Locavore" at 2 p.m. March 20. Bay Area author Elise Cooke will discuss how she feeds her family by eating locally and saves money on groceries at 7 p.m. March 23 at the Bay Farm Library.
"We hope to encourage the entire community to read a book and participate in this month's activities," said Lundstrom, "and are looking forward to the events."
A gardening Trend
A trend that ranks right up top with kitchen gardens is terrariums. Terrariums and kitchen gardens were neck and neck when I searched Google Insight - the same Google tool that Kairos Futures used.
And think about it, terrariums make all kinds of gardeners happy: the botanical lover, the urban dweller and the cubicle farmer. And they cross over into the interior design community. Anybody, anywhere can grow a terrarium.
Way ahead of lower ranking container gardening and serenity gardens are succulents. How could the trend spotters miss ever-popular echeverias?
Succulents have broken their desert-rat ranks and hit the big time. Even Martha Stewart collects them in her frigid Eastern climate. Succulents are infinitely interesting, easy to grow and beginners and hard-core gardeners alike can't collect enough of them.
Kairos missed the seed-starting trend. According to Google, seed starting, seeds, growing from seeds or anything seed ranks well ahead of almost all other garden trends except kitchen gardening.
In fact, growing plants from seeds has hit an all-time high. Burpee expects its seed sales to jump 25 percent this year and Harris Seed said its sales have jumped 80 percent.
Last but not least, we can't overlook hydroponics. You know, growing "plants" indoors under lights, without soil? It's right up top of garden-related searches after kitchen gardens.
Marijuana isn't the only plant you can grow using the hydroponic method. Hydroponics are popular in the cut-flower trade and tomato growers are getting bumper crops this way.
Yeah, but whatever you do Kairos Futures, don't ask me. I'm old school. But what Kairos Futures missed was if they had talked to a few "experts," the experts could have told them what trends to look at in the first place.
And think about it, terrariums make all kinds of gardeners happy: the botanical lover, the urban dweller and the cubicle farmer. And they cross over into the interior design community. Anybody, anywhere can grow a terrarium.
Way ahead of lower ranking container gardening and serenity gardens are succulents. How could the trend spotters miss ever-popular echeverias?
Succulents have broken their desert-rat ranks and hit the big time. Even Martha Stewart collects them in her frigid Eastern climate. Succulents are infinitely interesting, easy to grow and beginners and hard-core gardeners alike can't collect enough of them.
Kairos missed the seed-starting trend. According to Google, seed starting, seeds, growing from seeds or anything seed ranks well ahead of almost all other garden trends except kitchen gardening.
In fact, growing plants from seeds has hit an all-time high. Burpee expects its seed sales to jump 25 percent this year and Harris Seed said its sales have jumped 80 percent.
Last but not least, we can't overlook hydroponics. You know, growing "plants" indoors under lights, without soil? It's right up top of garden-related searches after kitchen gardens.
Marijuana isn't the only plant you can grow using the hydroponic method. Hydroponics are popular in the cut-flower trade and tomato growers are getting bumper crops this way.
Yeah, but whatever you do Kairos Futures, don't ask me. I'm old school. But what Kairos Futures missed was if they had talked to a few "experts," the experts could have told them what trends to look at in the first place.
Top gardening trends
There is an interesting report out on garden trends by Kairos Futures, an international research and management-consulting firm that was co-sponsored by Gardena.com (manufacturer of tools) and Husqvarna.com (the lawnmower people).
No doubt that their report is comprehensive: In 68 pages Kairos focused on garden trends from around the world and included China, Australia, South Africa and European countries in addition to the U.S.
Instead of looking at what garden experts said were trends, Kairos looked at what gardeners were doing in real time on the web. A New York Times story that said Japanese Gardens were on trend turned out to be a little late as the Times methodology was four years behind the trend.
Garden bloggers, Kairos said, seem to be ahead of the trends or are creating the trends. Garden bloggers are typically young and female; surprisingly, the most popular among this blogging bunch are amateur gardeners.
One of the trends: Experts are out - amateurs are in. And that's fine with me since we all started as beginners way back when, and I am thrilled to see a new generation of punk rockers planting potatoes.
Other trends the report touched on: Kitchen gardens ranked No. 1. Organic gardening is gaining on the top spot, while serenity gardens ranked third (it's a European thing), and a new trend - wild gardens, native gardens, or less-than-manicured landscapes - is emerging.
Container gardening and urban farming are similar subjects in that they both deal with gardening in small spaces. Both are hugely popular trends.
But I wish Kairos Futures had dropped me a line, because they left some huge trends completely out of their report. Garden experts might not be "in" now, but they know a thing or two about what is happening in the garden community.
No doubt that their report is comprehensive: In 68 pages Kairos focused on garden trends from around the world and included China, Australia, South Africa and European countries in addition to the U.S.
Instead of looking at what garden experts said were trends, Kairos looked at what gardeners were doing in real time on the web. A New York Times story that said Japanese Gardens were on trend turned out to be a little late as the Times methodology was four years behind the trend.
Garden bloggers, Kairos said, seem to be ahead of the trends or are creating the trends. Garden bloggers are typically young and female; surprisingly, the most popular among this blogging bunch are amateur gardeners.
One of the trends: Experts are out - amateurs are in. And that's fine with me since we all started as beginners way back when, and I am thrilled to see a new generation of punk rockers planting potatoes.
Other trends the report touched on: Kitchen gardens ranked No. 1. Organic gardening is gaining on the top spot, while serenity gardens ranked third (it's a European thing), and a new trend - wild gardens, native gardens, or less-than-manicured landscapes - is emerging.
Container gardening and urban farming are similar subjects in that they both deal with gardening in small spaces. Both are hugely popular trends.
But I wish Kairos Futures had dropped me a line, because they left some huge trends completely out of their report. Garden experts might not be "in" now, but they know a thing or two about what is happening in the garden community.
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