Terrace Gardening Ideas

Draping

• Terraced gardens are the perfect place for planting trailing ground covers and vines. The difference in elevation between each terraced surface provides both a support and a backdrop for trailing vines such as morning glories, sweet peas and ivy. Planting these near the outer lip of the terrace encourages draping and allows space behind them for taller annual and perennial plants.

Theme Gardening

• The normally small space available in terraced gardens provide an opportunity for expressing your personality. Theme gardens contain plants with similar characteristics such as colors, shapes or function. Butterfly gardens are a common type of theme garden that contain various plants that draw hummingbirds and butterflies to your yard. Rose gardens are another popular type of theme garden. Planting a theme garden using various plants of a single color helps to create a vibrant statement in your yard.

Vegetable Spread

• Terrace gardening provides valuable level space suitable for growing a variety of vegetables. Tomatoes, peppers and onions grow well along terraced gardens in full sunlight. Consider the mature size of vegetable plants to determine how close to plant them along the terraced landscape. Vegetable plants require good drainage and airflow to thrive and mature. Planting these near the bottom of the terraced garden to allow easy access for watering, weeding and harvesting.

Garden Features

• The unique design of a terrace provides a natural staging area for displaying lawn ornaments and outdoor décor. Depending on the size and accessibility of the terrace, these soil-retaining systems may accommodate small ponds, fountains or birdbaths. Surrounding these water features with water garden plants, such as water hyacinth and cattails, help define the area. Other garden feature that serve to emphasize the terrace include birdhouses on posts, wind chimes, decorative benches and sundials.