Here are a few pointers for planting your garden roof. It's best to simply think of your garden roof as a raised garden bed. (it just happens to be on a chicken coop!) One of your main goals is to retain moisture and eliminate water. Sounds conflicting, huh?!
Eliminate Water: In order to eliminate water, you need to create a layer in your garden roof where water can drain through the soil and move to the drain spouts. Packing peanuts do a fabulous job of creating that drainage layer. The peanuts are strong enough not to compact from the weight of the soil and they allow water to move freely to the drain spouts. I have also used inverted nursery trays! This layer should only be for the first 1-2" of the garden roof.
Laying a piece of landscape fabric between the soil and the drainage layer will help keep the soil from washing down the drain.
Retain Moisture: Raised garden beds can dry out quick so it is VERY important that you use potting soil as your main soil. I mixed in a bit of compost, but limit that to 20% of your total soil. Potting soil helps retain moisture and it's light! (You don't want to load the roof with too much weight.)
Next...add your plants!
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ME::
'Kippen' means Chickens in Dutch!
Kippen House is a joining of my dutch heritage and love of modern, dutch design with my curious interests in homesteading and urban farming. All in the form of urban garden chicken coops!
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