Green Roof Soil Types

There are two types of green roof.

Green roof soil types.

There are three basic types of green roof. Each type of plant will require different growing medium maintenance and local conditions to sustainable growth. Consists of a thick layer of soil 50 200mm in which a variety of grasses herbs flowers and shrubs can grow. Disadvantages are the lack of nutrients and potential to become eroded by windy conditions or flooding.

Intensive roofs which are thicker with a minimum depth of 12 8 cm 5 1 16 in and can support a wider variety of plants but are heavier and require more maintenance and extensive roofs which are shallow ranging in depth from 2 cm 13 16 in to 12 7 cm 5 in lighter than intensive green roofs and require minimal maintenance. Intensive thick extensive thin and semi extensive somewhere in between. The main advantage to this type of soil on a green roof is its light weight and ease of handling as it comes pre packaged in bales from a manufacturer. Green roof growing media is an integral part of a functioning.

When designing a green roof there are several factors to take into consideration. This is because they provide ecological benefits aesthetic value and creative urban architecture. Recently it was thought that the best soils for green roofs were engineered soils or pasteurized peat based soilless media with little emphasis on adapting it to local needs. Semi intensive green roofs require a deeper soil layer but the payoff is in the types of plantings that can be used.

Green roofs or living roofs have become popular over the years. These need to be accessible gardens for maintenance and can even be used as a recreation space.