Special Features of a Home Garden
Another special features of a home garden is Roof gardens. These are more often found in urban environments. The designing of urban spaces is a demanding branch of landscape architecture due to the high value placed on a space within urban areas. Space is always at a premium in town. The modern tendency in architecture is for a flat roof. The greatest advantage of having a roof garden is that it will add an extra dimension to the house. A roof garden is an area that is generally used for recreation, entertaining, and as an additional outdoor living space for the building’s residents. It may include planters, plants, dining and lounging furniture, outdoor structures such as pergolas and sheds, and automated irrigation and lighting systems.
At first, the designer should prepare a detailed plan including all factors like orientation of sun, good and poor views, prevailing winds, changes of levels, access points, surrounding wall or roofs, available services, existing floor coverings, and other structures.
Construction procedure of a roof garden
Roof surface should be made slightly slanted and two inches deep metal layer is used to improve drainage. Waterproof tar is applied to the concrete slabs before laying the metal layer. If an irrigation system is going to be established, irrigation lines are laid in the metal layer. The metal layer should be flat and it should not have a depressed area, because it can create a waterlogged condition. Three inches deep sand layer is placed above the filter mat to further improve the drainage and aeration. The sand layer is separated from the gravel layer by using a filter mat (Geo mat). It prevents soil particles washed down to the metal layer. After that plant substrate is used (coir dust: sand: top soil 1:1:1). Plants in containers are used extensively in roof top gardens. Plants in containers prevent added stress to the roof’s water proofing. Flower troughs can be constructed according to the required height.
Cross Section of the floor of a Roof Garden
Plant selection for roof garden
Several factors to be considered when selecting plants for a roof garden. As an example of soil depth, the plant’s ability to adopt dry condition, root penetration. Plants that produce messy leaves and fruits are avoided. Plants commonly used in roof gardens include Stenolbium stans (Kelanithissa), Bougainvillaea, Ixora, Alternanthera, Rheo spathacea, Plumeria obtusa, Nerium oleander.
A rock garden is also a special features of a home garden, also known as a rockery or an alpine garden, is a type of garden that features extensive use of rocks or stones, along with plants native to rocky or alpine environments. Rock garden plants tend to be small, both because many of the species are naturally small, and so as not to cover up the rocks. They may be grown in troughs or in the ground.
Construction procedure of a rock garden
A rock garden can build into the face of an existing slope in a garden and it is helped to ensure a natural look. The location should be a sunny place and definitely should not be a shady place or an under the tree. Make out the shape of the garden on the ground using pegs and a garden horse. Dig out topsoil within the area of the rock garden and compact the base of the ground. Next, position the largest rock and try to arrange other small rocks and stones accordingly and place plants in require places between rocks and stones. Mostly use plants for rock gardens are Cactus, Bromelia.
Indoor Garden – special features of a home garden
Today the ground space in cities and industrial areas is a limiting factor and therefore the home gardens have become smaller and most of the people have limited space for gardening. So man relies on indoor gardening and pot culture to satisfy their interest in plants and gardening. The shade-loving plants which can be grown indoors are called indoor plants. Growing indoor plants is comparatively easy and saves labor, less watering, and manuring. Mostly used indoor plants are Aglaonema, Dieffenbachia spp, Nephrolepis exaltata, Anthurium, Raphis excelsa, Dracaena sandriana.
Kitchen Garden – Special features of a home garden
A kitchen garden is another special features of a home garden. A garden required to grow vegetables and other plants useful for human consumption, in contrast to a flower garden that exists for aesthetic purposes. It is usually located to the rear of a property in the back garden or back yard. With worsening economic conditions and increased interest in organic and sustainable living, many people are turning to vegetable gardening.
When choosing the location for the kitchen garden, available sun lights, drainage conditions, space and soil depth should be considered. Usually, the garden should be surrounded by a fence. Good soil for growing vegetables must be protected by proper cultivation. Use of organic matter, maintenance of soil fertility, and control of plant pests. Properly prepared soil provides a desirable medium for root development, absorbs water and air rapidly. A kitchen garden can be created by planting different vegetables in pots or containers, with the added benefit of mobility.