11 Useful and Important Terrace Gardening Tips

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Last Updated: 17.10.2023

If you are looking to convert the open space in your terrace into a green garden, then these awesome Terrace Gardening Tips will help you just right!

Useful Terrace Gardening Tips

Limited space problem in the metropolitan cities has held back many gardeners from pursuing their gardening hobby. But, terrace spaces have emerged as the rising solution to it. So, if you have a penthouse or a small home with no yard, try these Terrace Gardening Tips to have your own little garden!

Have a look at the most beautiful terrace garden ideas here


Terrace Gardening Tips

1. Waterproof the Roof

Examine if your terrace has any leakages and fix them before you start. Since gardening requires a lot of watering, waterproofing the terrace floor, and getting good drainage will ensure that your roof stays water-resistant and leakage-free.

Note: You can skip this step if going for container gardening.

2. Plan a Layout

Draw a rough draft on the paper of your terrace garden including sitting arrangement, placement of containers, and walking space. It should have a balanced mix of vining shrubs, small trees, seasonal flowers, and vegetables.

3. Containers Gardening is Best for Starters

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It’s better to go for containers, instead of beds, as container gardening is easy to manage. Opt for terracotta or ceramic planters for better aeration. You can also use domestic supplies like coconut shells, coke bottles, kitchen utensils, plastic boxes as pots. But avoid using plastic planters in summers, as they soak more heat.

4. The Right mix of Light and Shade

Make sure your terrace receives 4-6 hours of light, as most of the plants respond well to it. But, during scorching summers, relieve your plant from excess heat by establishing some shade.

You can opt for a light-colored shade cloth as it is heat reflective, and also allows ventilation so that the plants wouldn’t stifle inside the shade.

Tip: Rotate your plants periodically for even sun exposure.

5. Pick the Right Soil

Purchase a quality potting mix for the plants that drain well and allow aeration. Or, you can DIY the mix by blending equal parts of regular soil, compost coir peat/sand, and vermicompost.

6. Select Plants Wisely

Go for fiber-rooted plants instead of tap-rooted ones, because they can penetrate into the ceilings. Pick seasonal blooms and vegetables, as they offer a wonderful view along with fresh harvest within months.

Choose the plants that are fond of direct sunlight like chili, marigold, tomato, and capsicum. Avoid plants that can’t tolerate full sun unless your terrace has some shady spot.

7. Water Right

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During summers, terrace plants may require watering twice a day, as the water evaporation is at the peak. Other days, you can stick to the rule of watering the plant deeply only if the topsoil feels dry to touch.

Water only during the outset of the day or evening to prevent water transpiration. Also, cut down the watering in monsoon, as plants in your terrace will already have ample water naturally.

8. Compost

Composting enhances the water retentiveness and adds the right amount of nutrients to the soil. So, either you can mix compost in the soil once a week, or you can apply it as a layer of mulch.

Alternatively, also soak banana and potato peels in the water for a couple of days, and pour their water on plants after straining.

9. Deadhead and Pinch

Cut back the flower stalks of the spent blooms in your garden so that the plant can attain healthier growth. Also, snip away the diseased, broken, or twisted branches from the plants regularly as a crucial part of the maintenance.

10. Add Pollinator Plants

Be it vegetables or fruiting plants, pollinators play a vital role. So, ensure to grow some pollinating plants as well to attract pollinators in the terrace garden like marigold, beebalm, hibiscus, and lantana.

11. Be Careful of Pests

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Pesky pests can wreak havoc in the terrace garden. Knock them off by manually picking them or by using a strong jet of water. Alternatively, you can also apply neem oil or soap solution on the infected parts using cotton balls.

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