Parkview Terrace Apartments Bell Gardens

A roof garden or roof terrace can be the perfect extension of your living space, offering a secluded refuge, high above the city streets.

'Roof gardens can be one of the most exciting of outdoor spaces, offering a sense of escapism and a chance to see the city from a whole new perspective,' says John Wyer of Bowles & Wyer, who has been designing and building roof gardens for over 25 years. 'Imagine yourself up on the roof, surrounded by buildings, but somehow slightly removed from the hustle and bustle of life below: scanning the city from your own secret haven.'

Regardless of its size, a well-designed roof garden that can be enjoyed all year round requires careful consideration of microclimate, planting and technical aspects such as weight-loading and drainage.

STRUCTURES AND SHELTER

'Without the protection of surrounding buildings, rooftops are often windier, wetter or dryer than a domestic garden,' says John. 'On a hot sunny day, an exposed rooftop can be almost unbearable without shade.'

Invest in pergolas and other vertical structures such as screens, to provide shade and support for plants. Remember permeable screens are much more effective at dissipating wind than solid screens, such as glass, which can create more turbulence. And, while shaded areas are important for dining, you'll probably want a sunny spot for lounging and sunbathing too.

Bowles & Wyer

PLANTING

When choosing plants for your roof garden, you should bear in mind the environment that the plant originated from. John says as a general rule, Mediterranean and coastal plants cope well on an exposed, sunny rooftop as well as plants normally found on rocky south-facing slopes.

Bowles & Wyer

Plants with thick waxy leaves, such as euphorbias, tend to avoid water loss, while hairy leaved plants, such as stachys byzantine, have the ability to block out too much sunlight and avoid drying wind.

Other recommended varieties are silver-leaved plants which reflect the sunlight to avoid drying out, and plants with narrow, pointy leaves, such as yuccas and pines, which have a much smaller surface area from which to lose water.

Fragrant plants with essential oils, such as lavender and rosemary, are another great choice for roof gardens as they are very drought tolerant.

Bowles & Wyer

John says grasses tend to do well too, but you should choose varieties that flourish in cool seasons rather than warm ones. Other popular, and surprisingly hardy species, are agapanthus, olive and heather – all ideal for rooftop planting.

IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE

'A roof terrace has a unique micro climate. The combination of increased exposure and the lack of access to groundwater means that plants frequently risk drought. Therefore, an irrigation system is almost a necessity even if you don't use it all of the time,' explains John. 'Just as important is drainage – all that water needs to go somewhere! There are different systems you can use for both irrigation and drainage depending on the situation and your budget, so consult an expert.'

SEATING

A key garden design element of your roof garden is the seating. Rule number one: try to avoid bulky outdoor furniture which could dominate and feel overwhelming.

Alan Pollok-Morris

'We often create built-in seating systems for our design schemes. It allows us to make it a central feature of the design and to position it to make the most of any view,' says John. 'We often combine planting with seating, using tall plants in raised beds behind the seating to create atmosphere and provide privacy from neighbouring properties. Whichever style of furniture you choose, make sure it is strong and stable enough not to blow away.'

CONTAINERS

Container gardening is ideal for small gardens, patios and roof gardens, and containers are considered to be an important part of the 'furniture' too.

'These days, planters are available in a wide variety of new materials so don't automatically go for terracotta,' advises John. 'We often specify fibreglass or powder-coated steel planters in our designs and use ceramic planters for feature trees to add impact. We also commission bespoke containers to make the best use of tight or awkward space and create "zones" within the plot.'

Bowles & Wyer

Other materials to consider are lead, zinc, bronze or ceramic. However, the most important thing to remember is to ensure containers are of sufficient size to stop them blowing over, thereby avoiding the 'windsail' effect.

Styling tip: 'When placing containers, make the most of views from important windows by siting containers, specimen plants and even sculpture on the same axis,' suggests John.

HEATERS AND FIRE PITS

Fire pits and heaters add a focal point to any garden and are particularly magical on a roof, creating a natural gathering place on cooler evenings and allowing use of the garden well into the autumn. For roof gardens, John uses fire pits and heaters fuelled by gel or gas.

Bowles & Wyer

LIGHTING

Like heaters and fire pits, lighting will naturally extend the length of time you can enjoy the garden throughout the year.

'Up on the roof, you can see the sky in a way that almost never happens at street level. As night falls, use lighting to add a sense of depth and shade to a roof terrace, creating dancing patterns of light against the city skyline,' explains John. 'To add drama and atmosphere to the space, use lighting to pick out key design features such as architectural specimen trees and geometric planters.'

Bowles & Wyer

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16 stylish garden sofas for your outdoor space

Rattan Garden Sofa - Best Outdoor Sofa

Grandfather KOK-Style Natural Rattan Garden Sofa

With a handwoven herringbone motif, woven diamond motifs on the back and a curved seat for softness and comfort, this garden sofa is ticking all the right style boxes.

Rattan Garden Sofa - Best Outdoor Sofa

Swara Garden 2 Seater Sofa, Polyrattan and Black

Made from a smart rattan, this two-seater garden sofa is brilliant for modern outdoor spaces. It has been designed to endure all weather types, so you don't have to worry if it starts raining outdoors.

2-Seater Garden Sofa - Best Outdoor Sofa

Chevron 2-Seat Garden Sofa, Black/Grey

John Lewis & Partners johnlewis.com

£39.00

Hit refresh on your outdoor space with this two-seater garden sofa. It has a contemporary look, a lightweight and durable aluminium frame and shower-resistant and washable cushioning. Grab a book and while away a long weekend...

Rustic Garden Sofa - Best Outdoor Sofa

Capri Garden Sofa

marksandspencer.com

£399.00

We really like the rustic look of this garden sofa, which is made from a combination of natural teak and synthetic wicker. Matching pieces are also available.

Garden Corner Sofa - Best Outdoor Sofa

Balawa

We're in love with this garden corner sofa from MADE. It boasts a beautiful open weave frame and generous sink-in cushions – it's made for lounging.

Wooden Garden Sofa - Best Outdoor Sofa

Paris Sofa

gardenfurniturecentre.co.uk

£999.99

A stylish choice to suit all gardens, we love the outwardly curved sides on this teak outdoor sofa (FSC certified).

Garden Loveseat - Best Outdoor Sofa

Laverton Garden Loveseat

Breakwater Bay Wayfair

£159.99

Make the most of your outdoor space with this charming garden loveseat. We love the slatted backrest and armrests, just add some outdoor cushions for added comfort.

Grey Garden Sofa - Best Outdoor Sofa

Melrose Corner Sofa

marksandspencer.com

£999.00

This highly durable, contemporary outdoor corner sofa from Marks & Spencer is crafted from sustainably sourced eucalyptus. Available in a stylish grey colour, it boasts slatted detailing and the seat cushions are water repellent.

Colourful Garden Sofa - Best Outdoor Sofa

Basket Rope 2-Seat Garden Sofa, Terracotta

John Lewis & Partners johnlewis.com

£499.00

Bored of neutrals? Inject some colour into your outdoor space with this terracotta 2-seater garden sofa from John Lewis. Made of a synthetic rope weave, this garden sofa is designed for comfort with sumptuous shower-resistant cushioning.

Garden Sofa Set - Best Outdoor Sofa

Garden Gear California Rattan Sofa with Canopy

thompson & morgan thompson-morgan.com

£824.99

With a practical canopy, this rattan corner sofa provides a relaxing spot to unwind after a long day. The set includes one large sofa with a retractable canopy, two chairs, one stool and one U-shape table with a tempered glass top. Plus, it also fits together to create a day bed.

Small Garden Sofa - Best Outdoor Sofa

Hampstead Rattan Bench

grahamandgreen.co.uk

£300.00

This is technically a bench but layer up with cushions and throws, and it's the sofa you'll never want to leave. Scandi inspired, we love the deep seat and curved arms. This is perfect for small gardens.

Rattan Garden Corner Sofa - Best Outdoor Sofa

Mini Corner Sofa Set with Storage - Brown

Habitat argos.co.uk

£300.00

Providing a cosy spot to sit outside, this corner sofa set with a multifunctional coffee table/stool comes with cream cushions for ultimate comfort. Lift the stool lid for hidden storage.

Black Garden Sofa - Best Outdoor Sofa

Mia Plastic 4 seater Coffee set

This rattan look sofa set in graphite (comprising 1 sofa, 2 chairs & 1 storage box) is a good price for what's included. The storage box also doubles up as a coffee table.

Wooden Garden Sofa - Best Outdoor Sofa

6-Seater Wooden Corner Sofa Set

Argos Home argos.co.uk

£400.00

We've got our eye on this Scandi-style wooden corner sofa set, which has room for up to six people. It has been made from solid hardwood and comes with comfy cushions for a stylish look.

2 Seater Garden Sofa - Best Outdoor Sofa

Vasto 2 Seat Rattan Garden Sofa in Grey

rattandirect.co.uk

£349.00

Looking for an outdoor sofa for a small garden or balcony? This garden sofa fits two people and has a long backrest that curves down to create the arms. Comfort is assured thanks to the thick grey cushion. A free outdoor cover is included too.

Rattan Garden Sofa - Best Outdoor Sofa

Kitts Garden Sofa with Cushions

Dakota Fields Wayfair

£355.99

Designed with comfort in mind, this 3-seater garden sofa features plump cushions with water-resistant polyester fabric.

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