Hanson

The rooftop garden, although it looks substantial is actually built on a thin membrane or very low platform so it’s important to ensure you start off with a level roof area. The whole garden can be slightly raised up from the original rooftop level which will aid drainage and avoid any water building up. It’s a good idea to perhaps build this garden within a low wooden framework, rather like a raised bed, to give a defining shape to the edges and help contain the design.

Since the planting is all in pots, watering needs to be regular in dry conditions. The ground cover, boulders and pebbles can be arranged to almost hide the smaller, corner pots where possible, giving the illusion of plants growing directly out from among the rocks.

For best results follow the step-by-step build process below

		Because this garden is on a roof it’s vital that you consider the loading, drainage, accessibility and ongoing maintenance. In the design all the planting is confined to pots and therefore no soil is used elsewhere. This means that drainage issues whilst still important are much easier to control.

		Select a flat, level area that’s free from any possible leaks or damage to the roof covering. The design is built either with the addition of an extra layer of asphalt or suitable waterproof membrane underneath on top of a plastic or wooden stage or platform which itself sits on the roof.

		Start by laying the bricks. We’ve used red oast house red multi bricks, (available from Hanson stockists) onto a mortar bed (slab base is ideal for this) on the platform. This is the longest part of the whole job but can be very rough as it’s only for position and stability. Don’t put any mortar between the bricks; simply fill those gaps with suitable sand later.

		Once you’ve got the bricks in position and you’ve left the mortar to harden for a while, fill in the internal areas with a generous layer of amber pearl and place the various plants in situ in their pots and planters.

		With the pots and planters in position, add the rainbow boulders and cornish cobbles, spreading any extra amber pearl as ground cover where it’s needed. The Chinese black pebbles can be added as plant ‘toppers’.

For a 2m x 2m garden like ours you will need:

Amber pearl 4 - 5 Maxipacks

Cornish cobbles 1 - 2 Maxipacks

Rainbow boulders Approx 7 - 8

Chinese black pebbles 2 - 3 Handipacks

Sand and mortar To suit

All quantities are approximate and are meant as a guide only.