Pergolas, Awnings and Umbrellas

Design and InstallationFirewoodGarden Caregarden TriviaIndoor plantsPlant Health Care
Written By Peter Morris

Introduction

If you have ever been on a NYC rooftop or back garden in summer during the day you know how much you need to have a bit of shade to retreat from the blistering sun. You truly can’t enjoy your garden if you are roasting slowly under solar rays like a French fry under a heat lamp!

Shade – the essential bit of refuge from the blaring sun comes in many forms.

Pergolas

From the Latin “pergula”, meaning an overhanging eave where the lower edges of a roof overhang the exterior walls of a building.

Modern outdoor gardens use them to form a shaded sitting area. Made of vertical wooden posts that support crossbeams - the top forms an open lattice and it is often covered in woody vines. These are my favorites ones – very traditional looking and customizable to any rooftop garden layout.

Nowadays they also come in vinyl, fiberglass, aluminum, and chlorinated polyvinyl chloride (CPVC), even brick or stone. Because of the weight restrictions building place on roof top gardens most new construction tends to be of light powder coated aluminum.

Powder Coated Aluminum

The added benefit of using this material - it will not require yearly paint or stains like a wooden pergola would !

Wood Lattice Pergola

A cozy private spot for reading !

Awnings

Unlike pergolas, awnings additionally offer rain protection. They are, however, subject to damage if used on a windy day and must be retracted. Some models are electrified and offer wind sensors and smart retraction that respond automatically to the weather.

Made of premium fabrics that resist mildew and UV damage

The biggest issue with them is they require being fastened to the building wall - limiting where they can be used.

Umbrellas

The best companion for summer... your garden umbrella!

They are available in many styles, including some with seating and tables, others cantilevered and stand alone. They also come in a variety of colors and materials.

Cantilevered umbrellas offer out of the way placement

They tend to work great on calm days or in protected sites as wind can topple them over. Without exception - all need to be closed and secured when not in use – especially on a NYC rooftop !

And there you have it – so go get yourself some shade !

or call us – (718) 392 9404

we can custom build something for you !

 Don't delay – the sooner the better !

GREENING NEW YORK FOR OVER 53 YEARS !

Article written by our Staff Horticulturist, Peter B Morris, BSc, MSc, MBA

All photographs used with permission from our own customers gardens !

Peter Morris

Peter was born and raised on a beautiful green island in the midst of a tropical rainforest. He was introduced into the world of plants at the age of six when his grandmother, an avid Spanish gardener herself, asked him to help her grow seeds for her pepper garden. He was hooked! By the time he was a teen, he had his own rose and orchid collection numbering in the hundreds. Botany was in his blood, and that is what he set out to study.

His passion brought him to NY in the late seventies to further his education. His tenacity allowed him to work full time at Plant Specialists while he completed a MS in Plant Biology. As a manager at the time he felt unsatisfied with his knowledge of business and business processes. Peter felt compelled to learn, so he then pursued and completed an MBA in Quality Management within a few short years.

Peter’s other passion is teaching. His natural ability is quickly consumed by our staff in all subjects in Botany, Horticulture, and Landscaping. He created an immense reference library of more than 3,500 plants providing an invaluable resource for our staff.

Peter’s breadth of knowledge and wisdom allows him to effectively diagnose the needs of plants. Sometimes just by walking into a garden he can create a prescription that fixes even the hardest issue. He is our Staff Botanist, Diagnostician, and all around Mentor. Recently, he has put his immense knowledge and skills into developing a new department that focuses on Plant Healthcare. As he puts it, “Magic through Science”. The PHC staff that surround him have avidly consumed his teachings. Substantially developing their own plant wisdom, many have taken on difficult plant health issues with spectacular results.

Plant Healthcare has been an instant success with customers! The proper treatment of insects and diseases including Organic methods has made pest control a necessity for every plant. Correcting hormonal imbalances caused by planting in containers or refurbishing soils leached of nutrients by irrigation systems are big challenges PHC has become quite comfortable addressing. The scientific approach to the complex demands of keeping plants healthy in our harsh city environment has made many a customer say WOW!

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