In my backyard we have a concrete slab that is about a 1/2 inch thick, that was used for a basketball area. Now, I would like to grow a garden on top.
Does anyone know if this is possible? Not sure if it is possible to drill holes for drainage. Could there be layer system like in living roofs that could work? Please help!
Hardiness Zone: 7a
By caitlin from Washington DC
Take a look at the 'New Square Foot Gardening' by Mel Bartholomew. This method will let you have a garden on almost any surface! The book also goes into raised bed gardening and also 'table top gardens' for people in wheelchairs or who have difficulties kneeling. I have no connection other than a happy 'square foot gardener'.
You are very lucky to have a place to make a raised bed garden. Just put cement blocks or build it with lumber. No drainage holes needed, it will drain under the above.
I have been growing on my driveway for years everything's in pots or containers of some sort.
This year I have started using Homemade Earth boxes made out of storage containers . Just Google how to make Earth boxes.
You could build a raised bed over it and put small drainage in the wood that you use. Just make sure you use treated wood. You wouldn't want to do all that work and it rot!
I am a retired Landscape Architect. Several years ago, we designed a garden on top of a concrete parking area. We created railroad tie boxes of different heights and sizes. Cascading plants on the edges of these boxes softened the edges and topped the ties on the ones high enough to sit on with redwood to protect "sitters" from the tie chemicals. The effect after a couple of years was quite nice.
You can place raised bed gardens over concrete. I haven't done it, but some have. Learn more here: forums.gardenweb.com/
It would be possible to use large pots.
Thank you so much for all of your help!
