Done on a small scale on a backyard building, they can be fairly straightforward to install and can therefore be fitted on a DIY basis or by a professional. If you are just looking for an eco addition to a shed, green roofs are a beautiful way to increase the sustainability of your plot. (Image credit: Alamy) DIY or professional installation? This can then be paired with wildlife-friendly plants such as Oreganum vulgare (wild marjoram) bee-friendly Lotus corniculatus (birdsfoot trefoil) and summer flowering Aster alpinus (rock aster),’ advises Nikki Barker. ![]() ‘For an extensive green roof, I recommend mat-forming sedums such as Sedum acre and Sempervivum ‘Standard Green’. It won’t provide as much water retention, nor insulation, but it does entail less maintenance if you're looking for an entry-level way into creating an eco house.Įxtensive green roofs need conventional insulation and rainwater runoff also has to be dealt with. Lightweight, one of these is easier to install – as is a semi-extensive green roof – than an intensive system. The layer of substrate or soil is shallow, which means it works for structures that can't withstand the weight required for an intensive roof. (Image credit: Alamy) Extensive green roof systemĪn extensive green roof is often a sedum roof, although it could also be planted with low grasses, mosses, and more. ![]() Sensory garden plants are a great addition as they will help to create a peaceful environment in your green oasis. However, you can grow anything else your roof can stand, ranging from cacti to cordylines,’ advises Nikki Barker, Senior Horticultural Advisor for the RHS. I love Achillea species (yarrow) for their long flowering period and evergreen Helictotrichon sempervirens (blue oat grass). ‘An intensive green roof can have the same plants as an extensive but is usually a wider mix of planting and requires more maintenance. ‘An intensive roof is more like a complete garden on your roof.’ ‘An intensive green roof shouldn’t be confused with your normal green roof,’ says Harrison. ![]() It also offers good insulation.Īn intensive system also creates a significant weight that needs adequate support, which should be catered for in the design of a new sustainable home or a new addition to an existing home. An intensive roof needs to be accessible to allow you to tend to it and you would need to dedicate time to doing so. It also offers the best water absorption. Similar to roof gardens, intensive green roofs are designed for homeowners to stand amongst their plants – both to tend the greenery and to enjoy the environment.Īn intensive system uses a layer of soil that's at least six inches deep and allows a variety of plants to be grown. There are three different styles of living roof from which to choose: intensive extensive roofs and hybrid.
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