An exposed South-facing roof terrace above a busy main road in Munich becomes a secluded retreat, with planting that thrives through deep Winter snowfalls and prolonged Summer heatwaves
Spring to Autumn
All images are copyright of the client
Planting plan
Container plants are positioned more closely than in the open ground. With a smaller root run their full size potential is restricted; also there is immediate greater impact
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Projected plant heights, density and colouring, Spring to Autumn
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The brief
- The terrace is to be used for quiet relaxation during the day and of an evening
- Munich experiences weather extremes of -20C with heavy snow in Winter, and long Summer heatwaves of 30+. The terrace faces South; it is on the top floor of the apartment building and is completely exposed. The planting must be able to thrive in this spectrum of conditions, and to cope with periods when the clients are away
- The client noted that most gardens in the city use conifers and heathers to guarantee survival, but isn't keen on this approach and wanted something different: ideally elegant, atmospheric and contemporary
- Plants should be tall enough to create some privacy, but not to feel opaque or closed in. To the South is a white church with clean architectural lines, and this view should remain clear. Busy traffic is visible and audible in the South West corner, and ideally this view would be obscured
- The planting should be light, airy and textural; colours on the white to purple spectrum
- Interest should extend for as long as possible from Spring to Autumn; in Winter the plants should be able to withstand the impact of heavy snowfall
- The clients live between Munich and Palma, and are well-travelled in South-East Asia. Their home is contemporary and stylish, with aesthetic details that reference their travels. The balcony should reflect this styling as a continuation of the apartment.
Key features
- All of the plants specified tolerate full sun, pH neutral soil, a South-facing and Exposed aspect. They are all hardy to either H6 (-20 to -15C) or H7 (> -20C), and thrive in moist but well-drained soil (standard compost recipe for planters)
- The plant colours in Spring are fresh green, white and pink-purple balanced with glaucous silvery-blue, deepening tonally in the Summer, and maturing to gold and bronze in late Autumn. Umbels contrast with tall airy grasses for textural interest
- Ground cover plants suppress weeds and help prevent moisture-loss
- Structural density at ground level helps to blur the edge of the balcony so that the plants blend with the landscape beyond; colours harmonise with the backdrop of trees
- Tall plants either end of the planter help screen unwanted views; an evergreen Viburnum in the South West corner obscures the road and provides scent in Spring
- Two clematis - one Spring/Summer flowering and one Summer/Autumn flowering - help soften the effect of a metal partition on the East boundary. Both deciduous, the later-flowering one has silky tassel seed heads that will last the Winter and look very pretty when frosted
- The overall effect is tactile and atmospheric, with interest from Spring to Autumn. The plants are cut down after the Winter snows as the new growth starts to come through.
Before & After
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Jun 2017 initial brief;
Oct 2018 four months after planting |
Client comment
"Just to say again how we really love it. The colours and textures look so beautiful. So grateful for your choices."
SB, Munich