With the summer having passed and the golden autumn leaves starting to fall, now might seem a strange time to be starting a garden, especially if you have no space on the ground to establish one. But for anyone keen to bring some colour to their flat roof space, now is a good time to start.

A flat roof garden can be a wonderful thing, bringing a bit of nature to a setting that might be lacking it, especially in an urban area. If you want to establish one, the first thing you should do is ensure the roof itself is well-maintained, so if it needs some repairs, do this first. After all, even on a dry day, watering the plants will expose any leaky areas.

It may be, however, that you simply need some checks done to ensure all is in good shape. That way, you can be confident that you can get started on your rooftop garden without any structural problems or vulnerabilities.

According to the Royal Horticultural Society, there are two optimal times for planting seeds on a rooftop garden: autumn and early spring. This enables plants to establish themselves before the harsh winter weather arrives.

That means if you can get the work done very quickly, it may not be too late for autumn planting. However, if you can’t quite do that, what you can do is ensure both that your roof is in good shape for the winter and that you can spend that time planning so that you can hit the ground (or, in this case, roof) running when the spring planting season arrives.

By working with the experts, you can ensure you avoid potential errors that could damage the roof. For example, you should place heavier pots and planters near load-bearing walls that can handle the weight more easily.

Getting the work started now means you can set the ball rolling on a rooftop garden project that should look lush and gloriously colourful when next summer arrives.