1. AMERICAN ROOFTOP GARDENS* *

2. WHAT IS A ROOFTOP GARDEN? ROOFTOP GARDEN: Any outdoor, elevated garden, generally found in urban areas; can be public, semi- public or private. URBAN GARDEN: Any garden found in an inner city area, may include rooftops, terraces, balconies, community gardens, public/private parks, and backyards

3. Many rooftop gardens are: found in urban areas situated in northeastern cities enjoyed by wealthy or others with disposable income

4. ACCESSIBILITY PUBLIC: completely open to public. i.e. Lotus Garden SEMI-PUBLIC: found on rooftops of corporate, government, or other buildings. Not generally open to public; access limited, related to certain activities, jobs, parties. For instance: NYC Parks Garden, Beth Israel Healing Garden PRIVATE: restricted use; residential or related to membership; examples include home gardens, YMCA- Brooklyn garden, etc.

5. TYPES of “ROOFTOP” GARDENS PENTHOUSE TOWNHOUSE TERRACE BALCONY GREENROOF

6. TYPES of “ROOFTOP” GARDENS PENTHOUSES

7. TYPES of “ROOFTOP” GARDENS TOWNHOUSES

8. TYPES of “ROOFTOP” GARDENS TERRACES and BALCONIES

9. TYPES of “ROOFTOP” GARDENS GREENROOFS

10. PRACTICAL CONSIDERATIONS WEIGHT DRAINAGE ZONE REPAIR REPLACEMENT ACCESS

11. MAINTENANCE CONSIDERATIONS PLANT STRESS ROOT PRUNING NUTRIENT DEFICIENCY PESTS AND DISEASE PLANT SINKING AND HEAVING

12. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS “BACKDROP EFFECT” rudinrudin CONSTANT SHOW PERMANENCE

13. COST TO CLIENT INSTALLATION ACCOUNTS $10,000 and up up up Can include containers, flooring, soil, stone, lumber, plants, lighting, irrigation, water features, labor, delivery ($60), trash pick-up ($60+$8/bag) and more Materials: 60%-80% over wholesale price Labor: $65-$100+/hour

14. COST TO CLIENT MAINTENANCE ACCOUNTS: $1,000-$300,000/year Materials: 60%-80% over wholesale price Labor: $65-$100+ per hour; billed by quarter hour Costs include chemicals, plants, soil, labor

15. LABOR ISSUES Contracts g enerally begin with a seasonal proposal prepared by maintenance person Laborer is extremely important for customer relations because he/she may be the only contact the client has with the company.

16. CUSTOMER RELATIONS DEMANDING CLIENTS Must balance meeting customer’s desires with the forces of nature. (i.e. can’t have roses in early March in the North.) It can be hard to explain that certain plants are not available to purchase at certain times of the year!

17. CUSTOMER RELATIONS ACCESS to BUILDING Apartment buildings: Usually 9am-4pm, sometimes as early as 3:30; strictly enforced…building staff will come and escort you out of building! Private homes: Coordinate with housekeepers; staff does not necessarily work everyday, or for full 8 hours at a time Accessibility can directly affect your paycheck because of unexpected scheduling problems and generally not getting a 40 hour week!!

18. CUSTOMER RELATIONS Dealing with staff Can be very particular because they are responsible for running household; must answer to homeowner Staff schedules decide your schedule Paperwork- Critical to profit/loss to keep detailed records of billable hours vs ”down-time” (i.e. travel, lunch, unexpected problems) Insurance!!!! “That rug you’re tracking dirt on cost $100,000!”

19. COMPANY STRUCTURE Typical Departments: DESIGN-responsible for designing planting schemes/hardscaping & selecting plants INSTALL/BUILD- constructs the designs MAINTENANCE-cares for and maintains the design;plant selection; customer relations! LIGHTING-can be contracted or in-house

20. COMPANY STRUCTURE Typical Departments: IRRIGATION-contracted or in-house ACCOUNTING-very important in this business to carefully track overhead, especially regarding labor LEGAL-Clients can and do sue! SPECIAL CONTRACTORS- i.e. water features, artists, stonework

21. LONG TERM ISSUES Plant growth Pruning (root and shoot) Plant replacement Soil replacement (over time) Deterioration of containers, tiles Damage to building infrastructure (again, drainage, drainage, drainage.)

22. ROOFTOP GARDENS QUESTIONS??