Creating an exciting outdoor space on a terrace is synonymous with building a rooftop garden. 

Think of your terrace as an additional room - an extension of your indoor space with more bucolic surroundings.  As with a residential backyard landscape, urban garden, or townhouse garden, consider the function of a terrace garden. Design it to align with your lifestyle - an oasis to unwind, relax, sip a cocktail, enjoy the view, host friends, or read a great book.  We recommend you keep maintenance to a minimum, so you can enjoy your time spent there.

How to plant a garden terrace

When designing any site, consider the advantages and constraints to the existing garden space. 

One of the potential limiting constraints and challenges on any terrace is the load bearing capacity of your terrace surface - how much weight the terrace is designed to hold. Plants and soil can be heavy.  Begin by checking with the building management, architect or structural engineer of record for guidelines. In New York City, apartment buildings, condominiums, cooperatives usually request a landscape design plan to be submitted for approval prior to installing plants on a terrace. Spec low-weight growing medium, lightweight planters and minimal soil to reduce the weight on a terrace surface.

With regard to tall buildings and those near bodies of water, wind loading is another item to consider. Tall deciduous trees or columnar evergreens may need to be supported with guy wires to prevent being uprooted by strong winds.  

Best Balcony plants for terraces

Plant choice should be determined by the existing site conditions - Is the plant in full sun? Does the terrace face south or north? Are you installing an irrigation system? Is the terrace in an exposed, very windy area? As always follow the old axiom - “right plant, right place”.  Most terraces are in full or part sun, yet urban sites with tall, clustered buildings also have terraces in partial and open shade.  

Growing tomatoes on a terrace garden is easy! Try planting vigorous perennials such as Nepeta (catmint), Achillea (yarrow) and Penstemon (beardtongue) Echinacea (coneflowers).  Herbs such as thyme and mint will return each year provided you are in zone 6 or higher.  Sedum or stonecrop is the perfect plant for a terrace garden, as they require VERY LITTLE MAINTENANCE AND A MINIMUM OF IRRIGATION. Sedums exist in alpine habitats; they have succulent leaves and tiny star-shaped flowers.

Plants for terraces in shade (that are protected from strong winds)

• Begonias - Begonias are easy to grow, keep them in light shade and they will bloom constantly all summer 

• Coleus - This annual will last forever! Take cuttings and bring indoors for the winter.

• Heuchera - they come in a variety of foliage colors and depending upon their parentage can bloom in early summer or late summer.

Plants for sunny terraces with strong winds

Foliage with thin or large leaves is inclined to dry out quickly. More often than not, plants for coastal gardens are ideal for sunny terraces - both are subjected to full sun and desiccating winds. Plant recommendations for windy and sunny terraces include ornamental grasses such as Panicum virgatum or Schizachrium scoparium (Switchgrass, Little bluestem), Myrica pennsylvanica (Bayberry), Ilex modives (Scalleywag Holly), Junipers, Sumac, hardy Geraniums and Nepeta. Lantana is a terrific annual for full sun… it will transport you to the tropics as it releases a fascinating fragrance and attracts butterflies on a regular basis.  

Small terrace garden ideas

Consider what can realistically fit on your terrace before purchasing multiple items. Good design begins with creating a terrace plan based on real measurements. Remember that the small terrace is an extension of your indoor space. Do you want to you use similar colors as those within your interior space?  Bistro tables and chairs that fold-up are a flexible, functional choice. Are you in need of privacy from an adjoining terrace or neighboring windows? Would you like to block unattractive views or mechanicals? — Consider a tall or wide evergreen plant to provide the solution! Where there are dramatic views, keep the views open with lower plants (24” or less.)

Tips for terrace garden maintenance

• Planters need to be kept a minimum distance from parapets. Consult your building management. 

• Whether you hire a garden designer to create a large terrace garden or you are a do-it-yourselfer with a 100 square ft. terrace, invest in a drip-irrigation system if you have access to outdoor plumbing. Terrace plantings dry out quickly during the heat of summer; some may need to be watered multiple times per day. Being available to your plants can turn into more maintenance than you had envisioned.  For DIY’s Dripworks.com is an economical resource. 

• Keep planters and pots off the terrace flooring to allow for planter/pot irrigation to drip through.

• For a spring garden terrace plant bulbs the previous fall after irrigation has been shut off. Bulbs tend to rot with heavy irrigation.

• Plants grow. Large shrubs and trees will need to be pruned on a regular basis. Perennials and grasses need to be divided every few years - take the remainder plant and turn them into gifts…an easy way to make friends with neighbors!

• Last and most important tip — DRAIN and DISCONNECT your irrigation system from its source before the first frost of winter.

Landscape designer near me

If you are finding you need a bit of assistance we recommend you search, or “google” a “landscape designer near me“  to find assistance in planning your terrace outdoor space.