With flat culture taking roots in the region and land becoming scarce terrace and balcony areas are increasingly being utilised an extension of interior designing to the space outside the living areas in which plants are used creatively to create the decor effect.Before planning such a garden or selecting plants for it the following points should be kept in mind.Amount of sunlight available: the amount of sunlight that will be available to the plants depends upon the direction of the balcony or the terrace at some places taller buildings and huge trees around tend to restrict the sunlight this information will help in selecting the different species of plants hardy and sun loving plants can be placed on the sunny side where as shade loving plants can be placed in limited sunlight.Water availability: terrace gardens generally need more water then the normal gardens dui to greater evaporation from soil and leaves the amount of water available on a regular basis will enable one to select a wider of variety of plants there is an option to counter water shortage by installing drip irrigation automatic watering system using an automatic watering timer.

Wind velocity: terrace environment is normally windier so some plants may need to be anchored if the wind speed is high failing which they may get uprooted wind further increases the requirement of water.

Screen: in case of high speed winds a robust screen should be erected to break the speed of wind this will also provide shade to the plants and can be utilised for the flowering climbers to further add grace to the garden by allowing them to grow vertically this will also give additional space to jazz up the terrace with hanging baskets.

Railing: it is essential to ensure safety.

Plants suitable for such gardens: plants with fibrous root system should be preferred over plants with taproot system.Drought tolerant plants often survive the best in such “far from ground” gardens.For the garden to remain colorful at all times off the year plants with different flowering periods and with different texture and foliage color should be selected.

Plant selection: the following plants are suitable but other plants may also be tried.Cacti and other hardy succulent plants are a natural choice.

Flowering annuals: phlox pansies asters daisy dianthus nasturtium balsam zinnia mini poinsettias.

Foliage plants: croton coleus peperomias asparagus dieffenbachia dracaena.

Climbers: begnonia qusiqualis heliotropium bush rose.

Vegetable: cucumber lady finger brinjal tomatoes however to establish a proper terrace garden corrugated sheets can be used and the desired slope for drainage is given nylon net is placed over the sheets to avoid compost from getting drained off and further about 3-4 centimetres off small brick piece are placed over the net to allow the drainage of any extra water for the well being of the plants finally place 18-22 centimetres of compost and create your own garden.

Tips to keep the garden healthy and beautiful: to grow bushy annuals pinch them at the initial branches resulting in more number of flowers.

Remove dead flowers as these take away avoidable sap from the plant.

During extreme summer watering may have to be done twice daily.

Don’t grow plants having big leaves as these will get tattered due to high velocity winds on the terrace area.

Select plants with shallow root systems.