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Roof gardens have been around for
thousands of years, from ancient Babylonia to the
present. A present day roof garden is an engineered
system consisting of layers of rooftop fabrication topped with
inorganic medium for growing plants.
HydrotechUSA is a prime
supplier of fabrication systems. Sustainable Irrigation & Landscaping specializes in the installation of the
irrigation portion of the roof garden system, as well as
the landscape design and installation of the actual
plantings. Roof gardens serve
many purposes from strictly aesthetic pleasure to control
of stormwater runoff, water filtration, etc.. A green
roof consisting of 4" of substrate can retain 60% of
water from a single rain event. The vegetation can
provide wildlife and insect habitat, sequestering CO2
and production of O2
or to return moisture and coolness to the air by evapotranspiration
and reducing "urban heat island effects" in downtown
areas. Properly installed, a roof garden can greatly
extend roof life by protecting and insulating the roof's
membrane by protecting it from extreme temperatures and
UV rays associated with urban
environments. For more information go to the
Perry Building Green Roof Project which
recently was constructed on the
University of Florida campus. Design
considerations for a green roof can be complex. The
clients needs and their expected outcome for the roof
are always of first consideration. The budget plan and
life expectancy will need to be well thought out. Ask
yourself, will my green roof provide access for personal
use and routine maintenance? Will I need to install an
irrigation system to support the green roof? These are
all considerations that need to be considered prior to
beginning construction.
Specific plant information for each growing zone is
constantly increasing. Go to the Plants Primer
for some basic information regarding green roof plants. I Live in the Southeast,
So What Plants Should I Consider Using?
Plants Native to Florida
http://www.fnps.org/
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/EP011
http://www.floridayards.org/fyplants/index.php
Florida Green Roof Projects
UF Perry
Building
UCF Campus
Plants Native to Leon County, Florida
http://www.fnps.org/pages/plants/plants_by_county.php?county=LEON
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