When selecting plants for a rooftop in Chicago – a city known for extreme temperatures coupled with whipping winds – picking the right kinds is a master class in resilience. Ann Weiland says the most important thing at this stage is making sure the plants are hardy and tough. “Soil depths aren’t as deep as on ground level, and they get a lot of exposure to the elements,” she says. Water is also crucial, especially at this time of year. “Winter and fall are very dry. We’re also mulching to get an extra layer of protection over the plants.”
