Green roof needed

Posts

• Fairygirl Posts: 55,117

  September 2023

  I think a few people have done it @stevemc, but it would depend on the size of the space, the aspect of the site, and whether you can do it yourself. It's basically just a surround [usually timber] and a base which gives good drainage, and then suitable plants put into a light, gritty mix. Sorry if that's a bit vague, but there's quite a few variables. The strength of the roof on the building will also be a factor, because even a shallow bed with minimal soil, can get pretty heavy, especially in wet weather and through winter. 
  I've only done tiny ones for my bird feeding cages, which were just made of scraps I had from other projects, and divisions of various plants I already had - sempervivums and sedums. 
  
  You can certainly buy 'roll out' green roof turf, in the same way you can get wildflower ones etc. I don't know how good they are though. I seem to remember them doing one on Beechgrove, but can't remember when that was, and there would have been no indication of cost. 

  It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
  
  
  
  I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...

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• stevemc Posts: 10

  September 2023

  Hi The roof is roughly 9m x3m. It came with the house we bought last year. Ive been working as a Carpenter/ joiner for over 40 years, so the construction wouldnt be a problem. I just have to get the building watertight for the winter😀 And its a bit of an eyesore.

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• wild edges Posts: 10,497

  September 2023

  What kind of plants do you want up there? The basic sedums will grow in nothing more than a thin layer of crushed brick but a better roof will have varying depths of substrate and other habitat features to create micro climates and allow more variety of plants.
  

  If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  

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• stevemc Posts: 10

  September 2023

  Hi
  Not sure what type of plants I want to grow up there🤔 Maybe i need to find a few pics. As most of the garden is trying to be hardy tropicalish maybe something along those lines. It would be good if it were evergreen😀

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• wild edges Posts: 10,497

  September 2023

  I found this book really helpful and full of examples to get ideas from https://www.amazon.co.uk/Small-Green-Roofs-Low-Tech-Homeowners/dp/1604690593
  

  If you can keep your head, while those around you are losing theirs, you may not have grasped the seriousness of the situation.
  

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• McRazz Posts: 440

  September 2023 edited September 2023

  I'd suggest having a look at Zinco's website and deciding exactly what type of green roof you're after as there's a lot of different types!... https://zinco-greenroof.com/
  
  Bauder are another... https://www.bauder.co.uk/
  
  GreenTech sell all the materials you'd need, but I'm sure you can get them elsewhere too... https://www.green-tech.co.uk/green-roofs-and-living-walls/green-roof-systems/green-roof-drainage
  
  We install a lot of green roofs on commercial buildings and they're not straightforward, there's a lot going on in a very small area so definitely worth researching what works for you, if at all! 
  
  
  
  

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• Buttercupdays Posts: 4,546

  September 2023

  Our garage is growing its own green roof. It faces North so is in shade most of the time. The ivy on the north side has been allowed to grow up and flower for the birds and insects so creates a mini hedge around it and moss has covered much of the gravel. Now Herb robert has seeded itself amongst the moss and should look very pretty come spring

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