trelliswork, hit-and-miss cedar battensarranged horizontally, or perforatedsailcloth that filters the wind so onlya subtle breeze is felt on the leeward(downwind) side.Glass is commonly used as a balustrade

and wind buffer on roof terraces as itprovides uninterrupted views. Don't site itacross prevailing winds unless there are afew holes in it, otherwise turbulence willsmack over the top and down on you withgreat force. Don't put yourself at risk byteetering over high edges to fix screening -call in a specialist builder or a rope accesscompany to tackle it for you.Taller wind-tolerant shrubs offer some

protection. Think of them as a livingscreen. Tough evergreens such as Olearia,Phormium, Pittosporum and Spottedlaurel in big tubs are perfect for the job.Bamboo is worth trying too, except onvery windswept roof terraces as its largeleaves sway too much in the wind, whichmeans the roots will shift about and theplants won't establish in their new pots.

You'll need protection from sunshinetoo. Shade sails are excellent - again,wind-porous materials are the best choiceas you don't want a solid barrier, with therisk of the fabric tearing or flying away. Acheaper solution is to put up a parasol, butmake sure it's securely anchored, otherwisestrong gusts might blow it away.

Choose a planting schemePlants will have to be very tough to cope

. with difficult conditions. They'll probablyhave to be tolerant of high winds anddrought as well as strong sunshine or deepshade, depending on the aspect. Denseevergreen plants are good for year-roundinterest and most have thick, glossy leaves,which prevent them from drying outquickly. Griselinia, Garrya, Viburnum tinus,Escallonia, Euonymus, Fatsia and dwarffan palms are ideal and provide shelter forcolourful-but-tough perennials such asglobe thistles, day lilies and Heucheratucked underneath them.On open roof terraces, plants must be

Above Th is flat'sroof terrace was anuninspiring spacewith simple concretepavers and opaqueglass dividing itfrom next door

Below The space isnow a contemporaryEastern-style gardenwith a water feature,polished blackpebbles, cedardecking and lighting

able to cope with blazing sunshine. Chooseplants such as thyme, lemon balm, sage,lavender, Potentilla, Olearia, Caryopteris,Californian lilac and dramatic Yuccas andAgaves. Grasses like hot conditions so they'rea good option as they create subtle texture.Miscanthus (try 'Morning Light' or'Flamingo') are robust and stand tall; or forvery exposed sites, choose Carex and Festucavarieties which form tight, low clumps.Dwarf conifers, like pencil junipers and

Pinus mugo 'Mops: tolerate hot, exposedsites too and couldn't be better suited toroof terraces or balconies.vAlpines, whose natural habitat are

clifftops and mountains, need little waterand can bear extreme exposure to intensesunshine and strong winds. Place rows ofterracotta bowls full of carpeting Sedumand Houseleeks - elegant and effortless.

Consider materialsWeight is the most important practicalconsideration. With tiny balconies tackedonto the sides of flats or townhouses, you ~

REAL HOMES FEBRUARY 2012 115

ARDENDESIGNMADE ASYBY%Whether you live in a house or flat, create aperfect outdoor area by following my advicefor a planting scheme for year-round interest

Roof terraces and balconies provide a greatopportunity to enjoy the surrounding viewsand extend the living space of your home,however small. It's important to get theright mix of materials and planting forcreating a space with year-round interest.

Identify a design themeSleek and simple is the golden rule whendesigning a roof terrace or balcony. Cottageor rustic themes rarely work. Go for a simple,linear layout with contemporary materialssuch as polished stone, rendered walls,Cor-Ten steel or concrete, or traditionalones such as woven hazel and clay paversusing them in a modern way. Choosematerials to complement patterns orcolours in the surrounding landscape oradjacent buildings so the design blends in.

Whatever layout you choose, takeaccount of the view. Eyesores, like gastowers and motorway flyovers, will needto be subtly screened, but if you have a seaview or attractive cityscape, make the mostof it in your design. Organise your area tomaximise good views, maybe framing themwith tall container plants or pencil junipers.

Use deckingDecking is a good choice for a roof terraceor balcony because it's warm underfoot,easy to work with and lightweight for

carrying up several flights. Any joists can befixed to surrounding walls so the weightgets distributed to the walls and not solelyto the roof itself. Choose western red cedaror hardwoods such as ipe or balau (froma sustainable source). They retain theircolour, last much longer than softwooddecks and look better too. If your roofterrace abuts a room with wooden flooring,use decking of a similar colour to help blurthe boundaries between the two.

Most roof terraces are covered in awaterproof membrane, while others have~a fireproof layer, so be careful not topuncture them with fixtures and fittings,

Coping with the elementsWind is a common problem on roofterraces. Many plants can cope with it, butyou might need some shelter if you wantto enjoy the space all year. Unless there isprotection from surrounding buildings,solid windbreaks aren't a good idea as theyblock out the view, plus the wind stress onfixings is high. Instead, choose permeable