Placeholder article on a general topic, here to show the layout. It was not written by the practice.
A terrace many floors up is a harder place to garden than the ground it overlooks. The sun is stronger, the wind is constant and every pot dries out faster.
Check the load first
Wet soil is heavy. Have a structural engineer confirm what the slab can carry before you plan large planters or trees, and place the heaviest pieces over beams and columns.
Break the wind, then plant
Screens, pergolas and a first row of tough, flexible plants such as bamboo or palms take the force out of the wind. Softer planting can then go behind them.
Water little and often
Shallow planters cannot hold much water. A drip line on a timer is the most reliable way to keep a terrace alive through summer, and good drainage under every planter protects the waterproofing.
