In addition to the mosses grasses and sedum of extensive roofs semi intensive plantings include herbs flowering plants taller grasses and small shrubs.
Green roof soil types.
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.
Soil structure for green roof media.
Each type of plant will require different growing medium maintenance and local conditions to sustainable growth.
Disadvantages are the lack of nutrients and potential to become eroded by windy conditions or flooding.
Green roof types green roofs can serve a variety of different purposes and can support a wide variety of vegetative and plant life ranging from grasses to flowers to trees.
There are three basic types of green roof.
Intensive thick extensive thin and semi extensive somewhere in between.
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.
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.
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.
There are two types of green roof.
Green roof growing media is an integral part of a functioning.