Intensive green roofs are widely used on commercial buildings where owners want to have large green areas that incorporate all sizes and types of plants these roofs will have grasses ground covers flowers shrubs and even trees.
Green roof and nurseries differences.
Desert grasses and succulent plants.
This adds to the expense of a green roof.
Getting enough water to the plants and providing good drainage are two main concerns.
This article describes the distinction between the two and outlines the benefits of each.
Two a green roof is akin to a garden.
But the difference between a green roof and a rooftop garden is kind of like the difference between a turf lawn and a patio garden bed with trees and shrubs.
An intensive green roof is more like a conventional garden or park and can have virtually no limit to the plant types that can be used.
There are three types of green roofs.
Extensive green roofs designed for environmental solutions.
But in general the construction of a green roof includes a waterproof membrane a root barrier and drainage layer then the substrate and finally the plantings.
The benefits of green roofs are undeniable.
However they each have a separate set of goals.
A semi intensive green roof can give rise to a richer ecology with more diverse plant and animal species.
Suitable for low sloped residential roofs and retrofits.
Typically these roofs will have more soil and some small shrubs as well as the low growing wildflowers and sedums found on an extensive roof.
However the green roof has to be designed to support the kinds of plants you intend to grow.
Green roofs are built as an extension of the foundation where plants and garden areas are constructed.
Plants for intensive and semi intensive green roofs.
One of the easiest green roof constructions is available from a company called greengrid.
Components of an intensive green roof click for high res version intensive.
3 6 of light weight growing medium.
According to the environmental protection agency epa the surface of a green roof on a hot summer day can be as much as 90 f cooler than the surface of a traditional rooftop.
Ideal for large flat roof buildings and apartments.
A green roof like your lawn is generally flat thin 4 6 of soil and planted with a family of short plants called sedum.
So make your plans known to your architect structural engineer and green roof system provider.
On green roofs plants cool air through natural processes and shield buildings from high heat levels produced by direct sunlight.
Due to the differences in growing medium between an extensive and intensive green roof the latter can accommodate deeper plantings with more diversity.
You have to nurture it in order for it to thrive unless it.
Green and blue roofs are both excellent choices when it comes to environmental sustainability.
However the practicality of green roofs is the sticking point for many people.
If you want any large or tall plants you ll need a semi intensive or intensive green roof.
