Three Roof Garden Variations
Roof gardens are built for both their aesthetic and their functional values. A roof garden can provide temperature control, architectural enhancement, hydrological benefits, and of course food. Further, they can be wonderful habitats for wildlife. There are many positive outcomes from planting a roof garden. For instance, on a warm day it can cool the room below. In the winter it can provide insulation from the cold. Water is retained from evaporating in Germany because roof gardens are required there. It will prevent flash floods from occurring. Three basic types of roof gardens exist. The main differences among the three are marked by the maintenance they require, the depth of the soil, and the type of plants that can be supported by the roof.
Extensive Roof Garden
Because it uses shallow soil, this is the easiest type of roof garden to maintain. Extensive roof gardens work wonderfully on top of sheds, garages and other small extensions to the home because they are lightweight. The number of plants you can grow on these types of roof gardens are limited despite the ease with which you can maintain them; additionally, they have the least aesthetic value. Examples of plants you can grow in an extensive roof garden are lichens and mosses. Lichens are symbiotic organisms that can colonize on surfaces such as glass, metal and plastic. Mosses are small green plants that do not require large quantities of nutrients for survival. They cling on stone and walls and, can live off of rainwater alone.
Semi-Extensive Roof Garden
This type of roof garden has deeper soil, and can support a larger variety of plants. Unlike extensive roof gardens, these can be more easily decorated. Semi-extensive roof gardens require stronger structures to support them since the soil is heavier. One could plant sedums in this type of garden. These are succulents that can store water in their tissues. Although drought and neglect can cause these types of plants to turn patchy or die, they don’t require watering every day. On a semi-extensive roof garden, you can also plant wildflowers that can grow without any maintenance.
Intensive Roof Garden
Capable of supporting trees and elaborate arrangements, intensive roof gardens require the support of strong, large structures. Concrete buildings and on top of roof decks are the most common places for intensive roof gardens to be installed since most single-home dwellings prove unsuitable for such projects. Assuming the building’s structure is capable of supporting the weight, the intensive roof garden has no limitations regarding what you can plant in it.
About the author: Megan Barlow helps others learn to live more eco-friendly lives. Learn more about sustainable living at her blog on Green and Eco-Friendly Gadgets.
This article was first posted at Roof Gardens: 3 Types.
