Please help me design my roof terrace!

[daylightforever]

I should say I’m a complete beginner with very little idea of what I’m doing and need lots of help and guidance although I do have some imagination.

I have a lovely rectangular shaped roof terrace. I have no idea what direction it faces but it gets lots of sun during the day and particularly in the afternoon. When I moved in last year, I went a bit mad and bought lots of plants but they all seemed to have died now.

Somebody told me that I should concentrate on fewer and easier plants this time round and try and keep them going which I thought sounded good advice. I’ve also had to re-deck it as the decking was going and have put in new trellis.

Ive attached some photos of how it was before and will try and take some new photos later this week of how it is now. But essentially - the terrace has a wall running along side one of its lengths and one of its widths. Then it has a fence with trellis running on the opposite length and on the opposite width is a trellis archway with a gate in the middle.

Ive numbered my questions below as it might be easier.

1. I’d love to grow roses along the trellis archway - I can’t decide between a peachy orangey, vibrant orangey or a luscious pink rose. Any ideas? And if I can do that, how many pots will I need to grow it in and how big would it need to be?

1. Alongside the trellis fence, I’d love to grow jasmine, passionflower and maybe another rose or honeysuckle. How does that sound? Is that too ambitious? Are there any other idea of fragrant smelling flowers I can grow along the trellis?

1. Have I left it too late to get any flowers this summer/year?

1. I think I need to start small and with flowers that flower every year and don’t need too much maintenance as I seem likely to kill everything. Does anyone have any recommendations? I love colour and vibrancey but I feel really lost with this at the moment.

Thank you so much in advance!!

aww, no photos! Try again OP

And regarding direction - can you check your roof on Google Earth?

I'm a novice but thought I'd throw some ideas out there. For position, if you have an iPhone you should have a compass on there. Not sure about Android but should be as simple as downloading an app if it doesn't have one.

1. Gertrude Jekyll is a popular pink scented climbing rose. Scentimental is a striped pink with a good scent. For pots, the bigger the better really. I'd say 30cm deep minimum, probably closer to 50cm. Most roses are grafted so you need to make sure the bit where it's grafted is under the soil.

1. My only experience of Passion flower is seeing it grow through the bricks and into my friend's dining room so avoid having it near walls! Jasmine can cause headaches in some people (fortunately not me) but something to bear in mind in the space is small. I have an evergreen star jasmine for foliage throughout the year. It's been flowering continuously since April. I also have a wisteria but it only blooms for a short period and then dumps its petals everywhere.

1. It's depends on the flowers. For bulbs it's too late, though bulbs for flowering next year need to be planted late autumn/winter and will be on sale soon. You can still buy potted roses but bare root roses sold in the early new year are a bit cheaper. If I were you I'd buy some roses and plug plants for this year while you plan what you want to buy in autumn.

1. Bulbs like crocus and daffodils can be vibrant and return year after year. Tulips are amazing but don't always return or may be a bit week in their second year. I have a small obsession with alliums this year. Have a look on the Sarah Raven website for some inspiration. You can buy the plants cheaper elsewhere but their planting ideas are lovely and in all fairness, the plants I've bought from them have been in great condition.

In my experience, water crystals are a must have for plants in containers. I can be a bit hit and miss with watering and have had fewer disasters since I started using them. You can pick them up in Wilkos for £2. I put mine in water and rehydrate them before potting up so they don't suddenly expand and push the potting mix out. They get so big that you really only need the one tiny pot.

Meanwhile, regarding your questions - I've been on a fragrant-climber-finding mission over the last few weeks and below is what I bought:-

David Austin climbing rose 'Claire Austin'
David Austin climbing rose 'Gertrude Jekyll'
David Austin climbing rose 'The Pilgrim'
Star Jasmine (Trachelospermum Jasminoides)
Passionflower 'Constance Elliot'
Passionflower 'Purple Haze'
Honeysuckle 'Gold Flame' (Lonicera x Heckrottii)

In addition, I've bought some Clematis ('Nelly Moser', 'Guernsey Cream' and 'Parisienne') and, although these particular ones aren't fragrant, Clematis generally have the most amazing flowers. Remember that Clematis roots like to be kept cool, and 'flower fade' is reduced if they aren't positioned in direct sunlight. Mine are on a north-facing wall, which gets a little sun in the mornings and evenings. The flowers look truly spectacular on what would otherwise be quite a dark part of the garden.

I have a similar roof terrace. I would recommend self watering containers with a reservoir or an irrigation system, otherwise you will need to water twice a day in hot weather.

Jasmine is an excellent choice and easy to grow in containers. Passion flowers are also a good beginner plant to start with. Clematis are great but will need the correct type of pruning and can be disease prone, they also need their roots in the shade and "faces" in the sun. I would maybe add those in a year or two when you are more confident. Roses have deep roots so you will need a deep container and not all varieties are suitable for growing in pots. They are also disease prone.

A good trick with a small space is to plant leaves with dark foliage at the back, those with lighter leaves in front to create an optical illusion of more space.

Thank you so much! This is really helpful!

Ive attached some photos of my terrace, sorry it’s quite ugly at the moment! But this is what I was hoping to train a rose (and possibly clematis) around.

I love the David Austin Compassion Rose but the woman on their live chat website told me it was too big to be put into a pot - same for generous gardener she said which were the two I’d been looking at.

She’s recommended Gertrude Jekyll which I do like too so I might just go for that - although I love deep orangey pink roses.

Thank you Cheshire Cat for the irrigation suggestion! I think I may have to go for something like that as my experience last year was everything died as I couldn’t keep up with watering!

If anyone has any ideas on how I can transform this space or on what roses to grow around the arch, I’d be really intrigued to hear! I have this nagging feeling there’s so much I could be doing with It, I just don’t know what!

For roses, I've been lusting after this one for a while. It's a beautiful orangey-pink colour and apparently fine for a pot. Plus, I understand the foliage is beautiful so it's good looking even when not in flower. It's a shrub, but upright in habit so could probably be coaxed up your trellis. Sadly out of stock at the moment, but...
www.davidaustinroses.co.uk/products/lady-emma-hamilton

I think you can filter on the David Austin site for roses that are suitable for pots.

I am going to suggest you give up on the idea of a climbing rose though. Weight is an issue with roof terraces so you are limited in the size of pot you can use (especially if you add in a water reservoir). Roses are prone to disease, hard work to maintain, need deadheading or you are constantly sweeping up petals if they are the shattering type, they aren't evergreen so your balcony will be bare in winter, they are thorny, which isn't great if they are all around the edges of a narrow space. Also, it will be gutting if you manage to grow it to the point where it has filled the terrace and it dies just as it looks perfect (always a risk with container gardening).

I would go for a standard rose in a pot as a focal point at the end of the balcony or miniature roses in a window box or pots.

What type of look do you like? Mediterranean, English cottage garden, tropical, architectural, modern, Moroccan, Japanese etc? Do you want a particular colour scheme? Do you want to grow fruit, veg or herbs? You've said you love fragrant flowers.

Don't forget to use your vertical wall space - it minimises weight, maximises floor space so you aren't tripping over pots. I've used Lechuza self watering window boxes on the wall to grow fairly large climbers - jasmine, clematis, passion flowers, honeysuckle. The Elho pots with a reservoir are good too. The Wilko clever pots are a good cheap alternative.

This year, I would concentrate on painting, lighting, furnishing and establishing a few big climbers with some small pots of herbs, geraniums, annuals to cheer it up. Then think about spring bulbs/winter bedding in September.

Thank you so much! That’s incredibly helpful!

Im a bit sad to give up on a climbing rose. Underneath the decking it’s a concrete roof if that makes any difference? Do you think it’s worth just giving it a try? Im definitely willing to put in the work and try, I just need to know what I’m doing.

I think your plan for this year is excellent and has given me some focus. I’ve already started painting the trellis. When you say establish a few big climbers, which would you recommend? Same for annuals? Should I also get perrenials?

Id love a Mediterranean style garden, I think. I love pops of colour alongside pastels. Sorry I feel like that’s not very helpful.

If you really want to try a climbing rose, I would try growing a dark ivy on the trellis/fence this year to create an evergreen backdrop that you can intertwine the rose in next year so you have all year interest and it won't matter if the rose fails! My neighbour grows substantial climbing roses from the basement to the first floor balcony but they are planted in barrels and intertwined with wisteria.

If you paint the fence and trellis a colour like dark grey, it will fade in the foliage and make the space look larger, and hide the dirt, although white will make it feel bright, wood will feel rustic.

I would probably try to beautify the fence. You could put up jali fretwork panels, which will double as trellis. Even just one panel as a focal point would look good.

www.screenwithenvy.co.uk/collections/all-garden-screens

I really rate the Ikea solar lights for longevity. Good lighting will make a huge difference to being able to enjoy the space in the evening and give you a pretty view from the windows at night. I also like outdoor rugs on roof terraces to make it feel more like an outside room.

Are you in London? Colombia Road Flower Market is open again. You should be able to pick up 12 trailing and upright geraniums for a tenner at the end of the day when they reduce prices, maybe some lavender too. Easy to grow, drought resistant, evergreen, they flower forever and are very Mediterranean. I would use the geraniums in balcony/window boxes on the fence and in the hanging baskets. I would start with ivy, maybe a passionflower and some clematis (one winter spring, one summer) as climbers. Taylors clematis are a good nursery. I doubt you will find a large jasmine this year so leave space!

www.taylorsclematis.co.uk/clematis-may-to-september/?filter=allinstock

I would then add in some herbs and architectural evergreen perennials to create a year round backbone for the space eg a small olive, cyprus or citrus (you may have to take it in in the winter), box balls, palms, grasses, a Fatsia japonica (in a shady spot), cordylines (Torbay palms), Trachelospermum jasminoides (scented), rosemary and bay (standard or pyramid can look good). Hibiscus is good too but not evergreen. Oleanders are easy and drought resistant but very toxic if you have pets/DC. Nicotiana sylvestris is also easy to grow flower and strongly fragranced. Nasturtiums are another easy to grow, drought resistant flower that will trail or climb if you want to fill space quickly this year.

You can divide up supermarket herbs to grow on. Norfolk Herbs are a great, cheap supplier, also good for salvias (another easy to grow, drought resistant Mediterranean flower). There is also a good herb stall in Colombia Road, if you are a Londoner. I like planting salvias, lemon balm or the fruit/chocolate mints (especially strawberry) in places where you brush past them so they release their scent.

www.norfolkherbs.co.uk/plant-type/salvias/page/3/

Oh gosh! Thank you so much, this is so incredibly helpful! So I've done a bit more research based on what you've said and I've got some more questions (sorry!) if you have the time to help.

1. I don't particularly like geraniums but are there any lovely bedding plants you can recommend?
2. With bedding plants, do you have to dig them out once they fade/die? What do you with them afterwards, basically? [sorry, I know that just sounds so dim]
3. When it comes to jasmine and passionflower, how deep and wide do the troughs have to be?
4. Also, when you say, plant the ivy, clematis and passionflower and get them established - can I plant them all in the same trough? Could I then in a year or so, add a rose to that? Or do they all need to be in separate pots?
5. I really liked the look of the parisenne clematis on the website you suggested but it says it doesn't grow more than 4ft so I'm wondering if ti would work for the arch way which is about 6ft....

I do live in London, so I will definitely check out Colombia Market! Thank you for the suggestions, I love the fatsia japonica. I've made a list of additional plants to get but I know I need to go slow and do it bit by bit...

Thank you again!

I'd really recommend some Mediterranean herbs (oregano, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, French tarragon, sage, lavender - don't bother with basil) as they smell divine and are quite unfussy, don't like a lot of water and will do well in pots, even over the winter. You don't need to actually use them in cooking for them to keep going, although they won't mind it if you do. They're also great for wildlife.

For low level planting, especially around any seating or a windowsill they are really excellent. They are also pretty useful for filling in gaps between the larger plants you are planning.

Highly recommend urban-herbs.co.uk/ for herbs, They have some unusual varieties, and sell lavender too. Everything I’ve bought has arrived securely packed and it’s all flourished - mint and thyme are enthusiastic growers, fine in pots and look and smell lovely.
I also have a honeysuckle (it was planted here when I moved in so no idea what type) but that’s grown quite vigorously so would probably cover trellis quite quickly. It looks a bit sad and twiggy in winter though.

That's tricky, if you don't like geraniums, the quintessential Mediterranean pot plant! They really are indestructible, flower for most of the year in London and evergreen so ideal for a beginner. Lavender is obvious Mediterranean alternative but I was thinking of something trailing and evergreen to cover the fence year round. Alliums would also look good and fir, as would lilies, sunflowers or Thunbergia alata. I have a purple globe artichoke, which looks great, as well as being edible, ditto Jerusalem artichokes. You could also let clematis and jasmine trail instead of climb. The only other one of the those suggestions that will cimb/trail is the Thunbergia. Trailing nasturtiums would fit the look too.

Bedding plants are annuals so they will die off (all the above suggestions are perennials except sunflowers and nasturtiums). Just throw them away. You might be able to reuse some of the compost. I think you will have to take what you can get this year as it is so late. Try looking at the big online companies like Thompson & Morgan, Suttons, Bakker, Farmer Gracey for bargains as they are selling stock off cheaply now. I would avoid them apart from the sales as they are over priced and quality is better from the smaller independent nurseries. You need bedding plants that are suitable for containers/hanging baskets (it will say). Or you can try Colombia Road/garden centres/DIY stores/supermarkets. Trailing petunias will be readily available, although not strictly Mediterranean! Ditto snapdragons, pansies, pots of chrysanthemums, and dahlias. If you can find Coolwave pansies (probably not until autumn), they will flower for 12 months.

I grow jasmine and clematis in these troughs out of necessity but I wouldn't recommend it!
www.lechuza.co.uk/balconera-color-80-white/15680.html
It would be better and easier to grow one (max 2) plant per pot and use a large pot like this:
www.elho.com/en/collection/product/8711904302320/loft-round-high-42-cranberry-red/?s=578

No, a maximum height 4ft clematis isn't going to cover a 6ft arch, unless it is in a tall pot!

Alliums would also look good and FIT THE LOOK!

This just landed in my inbox:

www.thompson-morgan.com/newsletter-special-offers-tuesday3?source=newsletter-garden-250621&utm_source=RedEye&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=TM_TN2293W-garden-ready-250621&utm_content=TM_TN2293W-garden-ready-250621

60 (garden ready but still tiny plug plants) for £8. Ignore the prices, the discount is added at checkout.

When the only garden I had was a sunny balcony, I tried to grow drought-tolerant plants whenever possible, to cut down on the amount of watering I forgot had to do.

I also grew herbs. Not especially for cooking, but so that I could touch the plants and release their fragrance. I had a little bay tree, which survived well and looked lovely. I also grew grass in long narrow troughs. I used to mow my little lawn with the kitchen scissors.

Lovely to have some green space and green smells high up in a city

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I can’t tell you how helpful your posts are - although I still feel completely bereft of knowledge, I don’t feel quite so anxious!

I love snapdragons, dahlias and ranunculus...so if I’ve got those right, I could use them as bedding plants and they shouldn’t be too High maintenance?

I will have a look again at another clematis!

I was thinking of having 3 troughs along the fence side and growing jasmine and Passion flowers in them so they can clamber upwards and then padding out the troughs with the above flowers and maybe lavender and other herbs - does that sound good?

Gosh, I might get up in second and sketch out a drawing.

Just thinking...does it sound now more like a cottage garden type thing going on? Is it possible to have mish mash of the two or will that look bizarre?

I LOVE the idea of mowing the lawn with kitchen scissors!!

I know you are set on a climbing rose but passionflower and clematis will give longer flowers with less effort and will be easier to maintain. It will look lovely 🥰

Oh and you can never have enough cosmos- they flower for ever and are so gorgeous

Bedding plants are annuals so only snapdragons are technically bedding plants out of those! You're too late to plant dahlias and ranunculus, you might get them as plants though.

I wouldn't plant anything in a trough with jasmine or passion flowers other than maybe something very small like the snapdragons. Definitely not lavender. You also need to match the soil type/watering needs for anything that shares a pot.

Is that a solid fence or railings? You would need to add trellis or wires for the jasmine and passion flowers to climb if it is solid. Also, it might be too shady if it is solid. Maybe you could note the time of day the different parts of the terrace get sun? If it's shady, it would be better to have climbers on the other side growing up the house, and trailing plants that tolerate shade at the top of the fence.

Don't do too much in one go. A garden is an ongoing project. Let it develop. A pot garden needs a lot of nurturing, and if you plant everything up at once it will be a lot of work to maintain. If you forget to water your young plants it hurts to lose them all. Far better to only have a few vulnerable babies at a time. You also discover how much effort you're willing to put into your garden, rather than biting off too much at one go.

Any new garden looks sparse at first. But your plants will get much bigger in a few years, so that's another reason to pace yourself, rather than end up over-crowded.