Gardens

 How can confirming whether children are allowed to play on the roof highlight potential safety risks?

Some societies allow kids to go up and play on the roof; others strictly prohibit it. If the railings are low, gaps are wide, or the parapet isn’t very...

What benefit is there in checking if lightning arresters or grounding systems exist on tall buildings?

Very tall buildings are more exposed during storms. A lightning arrester and proper grounding system safely redirect high-voltage...

 How can looking for old patchwork spots on the roof surface reveal repeated leakage issues?

Roofs with lots of different patches—some newer cement, some old sealant, some random tiles stuck in—often tell a...

Why is it important to see whether overhead pipes on the roof are properly supported and not sagging?

Overhead pipes carry water across roofs to tanks, flats or common areas. If they’re badly supported, loosely tied,...

How can checking if stairhead rooms on the roof are kept locked reduce chances of misuse?

Many buildings have a small room at the top of the staircase on the roof—used for storage, lift...

How can using a watering can with a shower head prevent soil from splashing out of pots?

When you pour water straight from a bottle, bucket or mug, the stream is usually strong and concentrated. It hits the soil like a...

What difference does removing dried flowers and dead stems make to how fresh a plant display looks?

Plants constantly renew themselves. Old flowers dry, leaves yellow, stems die back. If you leave all of that on the plant, the overall effect...

How can hanging planters free up ground space while still adding lots of greenery?

Floor space on balconies is limited. If every pot sits on the ground, soon there’s no space to walk, keep a chair, or dry...

Why is it smart to check pot weight before buying if you live on an upper floor balcony?

Big ceramic or concrete pots look beautiful… until you try to move them on a fifth-floor balcony or realise your railing slab is now...

How can grouping herbs close to the kitchen door make them easier to use in daily cooking?

Fresh herbs sound great in theory, but if they’re growing somewhere far from the kitchen, you’ll only use them on “special days.” Daily cooking...