In urban environments, rooftops are often the only available space for farming. This is why you can see more and more farming containers and hydroponic farms on the rooftops of buildings. However, this is not reserved just for skyscrapers and massive residential blocks. You can have a rooftop garden even in your residential house.
If you don’t have enough space in the backyard or want to utilize every last part of your property, this might be something that you need to consider. With all of this in mind and without further ado, here are some pros and cons of having a rooftop garden in your house.
Pros
Producing food or growing flowers are self-explanatory benefits of rooftop gardening. Being able to put organically-grown food on your family’s dining table is a fulfilling idea. It also saves food and helps you lead a more balanced diet. However, there are other pros of this idea that you might not have thought of. Here are several such ideas.
Good for environment
The first thing we want to address is that locally-produced food always benefits the environment. You see, while pesticides and food production, in general, cause pollution, the transportation of these goods causes a huge environmental problem. Growing some of your food on the rooftop will solve a part of this issue already. Another thing to consider is the importance of composting. Many items you would otherwise toss into your trash can should be repurposed. Making your compost is one of the best ways to do so. Remember that you need to designate a space where you’ll do so.
Energy-efficient
Rooftop gardens are more efficient than most other forms of gardening. They’re made to be self-sufficient systems, and there’s not much transportation involved. The food and herbs produced there have to travel several yards literally to get to your dining table. How awesome is that? They also add more insulation to the house, in general. The thing is that rooftop gardens add an extra layer of insulation. This makes it harder for heat to escape your home via the roof. Since 25% of heat leaves your home via a roof, this is a huge deal.
A way to improve your living space
Farming and gardening are great hobbies and relaxing activities. It helps you reconnect with Mother Earth by getting in touch with the natural textures of plants and fertile soil. It’s an irreplaceable boost to your psyche that you can’t ignore. This is especially important for those who don’t get many opportunities to spend time in nature. After a day in the office, it might be great for you to spend some time gardening. Moreover, this gives this unused area of your living space a new purpose. Since most people take this space for granted, it will feel like you’re getting more property out of thin air.
Improved air quality
Plants produce oxygen. By keeping them on the rooftops of urban environments, you’ll improve the air quality of the entire area. Remember that, in photosynthesis, they consume CO2, which means they purify the air. Now, due to dense traffic in urban areas, this is more important than ever. Sure, you can improve indoors with a well-maintained HVAC system, but what about the rest of your home? Keeping plants indoors makes the air fresher, but keeping them on the rooftop is not different. Sure, it feels like a drop in the ocean, but this might soon change if enough people start using rooftop farms. Similarly to solar panels, seeing others install gardens on their rooftop might inspire your neighbors to do so, too.
Noise absorption
Plants absorb noise. Therefore, with everything around you (primarily traffic), this is one of the best ways to handle the problem simply and elegantly. You see, green roof systems contain elements like soil and trapped layers of air, which are great insulation options. The reason why this is so great is that it addresses the issue from all angles. Plants block higher frequencies, while soil and air pockets trap lower frequencies. In other words, it makes your home quieter on every level. If you want to maximize this effect, you can further optimize the garden’s layout.
Cons
When it comes to cons, there are a few concepts that immediately pop into mind. First, setting this up is more expensive than making a regular garden. It’s also more difficult to install, and you might not have some supplies nearby. Still, there are two other problems that you might not have thought of.
It might hurt your roof or an entire house
It’s worth mentioning that not everyone can have a rooftop garden. First, you would probably need a flat roof (or a large portion of a flat roof, at least). Even then, according to experts from Summit Construction Group, you need to be sure that the roof can take it. There’s only so much weight that your roof structure can handle. This means you must be extra careful, consult experts, and do the math. You must also be specific about what you intend to put on the roof.
Additional maintenance
Remember that your garden needs much maintenance, but your rooftop garden needs even more. You see, the soil is in containers or beds, not on the ground, which adds more elements you need to maintain to the equation. This might not be an issue if you know what this maintenance entails. The problem is that some people underestimate the level of maintenance and then feel remorseful for their choice. Do your research ahead of time to avoid finding yourself in this situation.
Wrap up
A rooftop garden can be one of the best ideas you’ll ever make. However, you need to know exactly what you’re getting into. This is why the pros and cons lists are so amazing. They give you all the good and the bad, and it’s up to you to interpret the list according to your priorities. If you’re short on cash or time, this might not be the right choice. However, it’s a great solution if you’re looking for long-term benefits for both you and the property and it can even make your house look more expensive if you done it right.
