02 July 2026

Roof Gardens

At Decorfolia, we’re known for bringing life to interior spaces, but our expertise goes far beyond indoor planting. For many years, we’ve been creating attractive 'potted' outdoor planting schemes for office receptions, staff picnic areas, courtyards and roof terraces, helping businesses make the most of every available space.

Rooftop gardens have a surprisingly long history. From the legendary Hanging Gardens of Babylon and the beautiful roof terraces of Pompeii’s Villa of the Mysteries to London’s modern-day Sky Garden, elevated green spaces have been enhancing our surroundings for thousands of years.

Recently, we were invited to refurbish a rooftop garden at an office in Winchester. While not quite as grand as the Hanging Gardens, it offered the perfect opportunity to create a relaxing oasis where staff could unwind and enjoy a touch of nature during the working day. The existing planters were already in place, but the compost and planting had reached the end of their lifespan and needed a refresh. We developed a new planting design with future climate conditions in mind, selecting plants better suited to the warmer, drier summers we are increasingly experiencing.

One of the challenges of the project was maintaining adequate moisture levels without installing a traditional irrigation system, which wasn’t suitable for the flat roof structure. To overcome this, we incorporated plastic reservoirs filled with LECA (Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate) beneath the planting areas at root level. Commonly used in Hydroculture, LECA absorbs and stores water, helping to keep roots hydrated for longer periods. To further improve water retention, we applied a generous layer of decorative wood and bark mulch across the surface of the planters. This helps reduce evaporation, protects the soil and keeps the planting looking neat and attractive throughout the seasons.

The result is a refreshed, sustainable rooftop garden that not only looks fantastic but also provides a welcoming green retreat for employees to enjoy for years to come.

Freshly replanted in March and ready to grow...

This picture shows about a third of the garden...