Rooftop Garden in Livestock Troughs

Seattle condo owners with no ground space created a rooftop garden using galvanized steel livestock watering troughs. Purchased from a feed store, the troughs (oblong and round, 2-ft sides, up to 10 ft diameter) were placed after consulting a structural engineer. Drain holes (2-inch, one per 2 sq ft) were drilled, then 5 inches of gravel and commercial potting mix added.

With garden designer Pam Roy, they planted each trough: Chinese witch hazel, Japanese maples, and mugo pine for upright accents; annuals, callas, crocosmia, and irises for texture and seasonal color; and cotoneasters spilling over edges. The result is a thriving, portable garden above the city.