Measure your tanks and, using strong landscaping material (such as bidim® or strong shade cloth), create panels that will cover the area you want to plant. My tanks are against a wall, so we only covered the front facing half. If you plan to cover the entire tank, I’d recommend that you create two or three separate panels.

Working on a rooftop to install a garden brings other challenges, such as safety. A balustrade is generally the cheapest method to ensure that there are no accidents. This needs to be installed before work can commence.

Flat roofs need a waterproofing system applied before construction can begin, such as the torch-on method - a heat-fused UV-stable membrane. If the roof already has one, ensure that there are no cracks that might compromise the waterproofing.

The surface intended for your rooftop garden needs to be able to drain water off quickly as stationary water increases the risk of damp and adds to the loading weight. Understanding water flow is important when planning a rooftop garden. Although flat roofs look flat, they are designed for water to flow off them. The structural engineer will give you the percentage fall and anything greater than one per cent is good.

Ascertain where the lowest point of the roof is and aim all the water in that direction. Ideally, install pathways in the natural path of the water flow, to assist water in exiting the garden. Wooden pallets and recycled plastic decking are ideal for pathways, which have a dual function of providing access to the beds and creating water channels, with the water flowing freely under the decking towards the drains.

Safe access to the rooftop is essential. For garden sheds and garage roofs a sturdy ladder will do, but for larger rooftops on taller buildings, if there is no ready access, stairs need to be installed.

A rooftop – especially in a coastal city – wind can blow a garden to smithereens. To prevent this, choose low bushy plants and with taller ones, such as tomatoes, stake them well.

When creating permanent structures for seating, or pergolas for shade or support, design them to be wind permeable, otherwise they can create wind tunnels or be blown over.

Rooftops tend to dry out more quickly than a normal garden and a reliable water supply is important. Water-wise methods such as mulching, intensive planting and grouping all help a garden to survive the hot sun. For a larger garden, drip irrigation is ideal.

Bare rooftops can be very hot zones, but by simply planting a garden this is mitigated and a cooler environment is created. The beauty of rooftop gardens is what happens below them, In this Durban rooftop garden, the ambient temperatures inside the building below dropped by an average of 3 °C, reducing reduces the air conditioner use by 40 per cent during summer.