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Anyone grown a living roof?

M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
in Garden design
That is a fascinating thing for me - a living roof. Seen it a few times on TV, Grand Designs, in magazines etc.
  1. Anyone created one? 
  2. What roof did you build on?
  3. Did you consider the amount of weight this posed for the roof?
  4. What preparation did you do to the roof before?
  5. What substrate did you use?
  6. What plants did you plant?
  7. Was it successful and is it still alive?
  8. How much would you guestimate it cost you?
I wish I could garden all year round!
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I have tiny ones on my bird feeding cages. Helps to keep the bird food dry. 
    Cost was virtually nothing as I had the materials and the plants anyway.
    I think you can buy kits for doing them though.

    I thought of doing it on the shed, but it isn't in the best position. Glad I didn't because it's falling apart at the base on one side, so I'd have needed to take it all off!
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    Fairygirl said:
    I have tiny ones on my bird feeding cages. Helps to keep the bird food dry. 
    Cost was virtually nothing as I had the materials and the plants anyway....

    I thought of doing it on the shed, but it isn't in the best position. Glad I didn't because it's falling apart at the base on one side, so I'd have needed to take it all off!
    That's a great idea Fairygirl  thank you dearest  :) 
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Should have said - it's just little sedums I have in it. 
    I have photos but I haven't got them on this laptop - they're on the old one. I can crank it up if you ned to see it.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    Fairygirl said:
    Should have said - it's just little sedums I have in it. 
    I have photos but I haven't got them on this laptop - they're on the old one. I can crank it up if you ned to see it.  :)
    I do like sedums as pretty low maintenance I bet?
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I never really look at them - they just get on with it.  :)
    I grow some in pots, but I tip them over on their sides a little bit for winter to stop them getting drowned, even though they're mostly in grit. They had a bit of a battering this year with the freezing/ice unfortunately. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    You can grow house leeks. They keep the lightning away. Apparently
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • M33R4M33R4 Posts: 291
    raisingirl said:
    You can grow house leeks. They keep the lightning away. Apparently
     Wow please elaborate I am intrigued!
    I wish I could garden all year round!
  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    Houseleek: Superstitions, History and Medicinal Benefits - World of Succulents
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • myclayjunglemyclayjungle Posts: 162
    We used a company called Bauder.

    1)Anyone created one? Yes, we rebuilt an extension last year and planned on the green roof in the design.
    2)What roof did you build on? A flat roof with a 5 degree drop. Its called a 'warm deck' apparently, where the insulation is above the joists.
    3)Did you consider the amount of weight this posed for the roof? Yes, 44kg per m2 when fully wet. We also have large lanterns on the roof which weight ALOT more than the sedum and consulted a structural engineer (we had other building works though, not just the green roof).
    4)What preparation did you do to the roof before? It was a new roof and all the green roof parts/prep/base were done by Bauder
    5)What substrate did you use? The sedum itself came in rolls and under this they put a 3 layer type of asphalt and possibly other materials
    6)What plants did you plant? sedum. The specific type of sedum was selected by the company, based on how coastal you are, how inland etc (apparently)
    7)Was it successful and is it still alive?  It was put down in the height of last summer, where we had no rain for 3mths!!!  We had to water it and some parts did become dry.  There are several types of sedum in the mix, and it looked like some certain varieties had died off- but with spring now, many are coming back.  I'm yet to see it in bloom though or see the benefits to bees as yet.
    8)How much would you guestimate it cost you? We have been doing a massive renovations, taking years, so I really don't know the cost of just the green roof.

    Another thing to note is that I've been on the roof maybe twice in 8mths to pull out small weeds.  They said it needs annual weeding and fertilising, but I think at least twice a year weeding would be better.
    https://www.bauder.co.uk/green-roofs
    Coastal Suffolk/Essex Border- Clay soil
  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    Our son built a wooden shelter to hide the bin/recycling boxes. He researched and found that sedums (that we had suggested) would be too heavy for what he had built and has a wildflower mix which is growing really well.
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