Rooftop Gardens That Survive the Summer

A rooftop garden succeeds or fails on three things: waterproofing and drainage under it, soil depth and weight, and plants chosen for full sun and wind.

Native and hardy species need less water and recover faster after heat waves; drip irrigation on a timer keeps them alive when you travel.

Add shade — a pergola, a tree in a large planter — and the terrace becomes somewhere you actually sit in the evening.