The largest green roof in the UK is sown on top of the Rolls Royce manufacturing plant in Goodwood. The roof is a staggering 242,000 square feet and planted entirely with green roofing’s miracle plant: sedum. But what’s so special about sedum? We investigate…
Why Choose Sedum?
Sedum is a pretty enough plant. Various species are found all over Europe and their tiny six petalled flowers will give a blush of sedate colour to any alpine rockery. Where they really come into their own is as a natural roofing material. They have two qualities that are essential to green roofing:
- Shallow Roots. The natural habitat for sedum is thin soil. This is good news for roofers who don’t want to be lugging great bags of compost up ladders. Less root mass also means less weight for the roof to bear.
- Drought Resistance. You don’t want your green roof to die just because there hasn’t been enough rain. Think what a prolonged drought does to your lawn if you don’t water it. Happily, sedum is much more drought resistant than grass and will not typically need watering.
How do you install a Sedum Roofing System?
You will need a strong roof structure in order to support a green roof. We recommend a high performance roofing system like this one we installed back in 2012. The easiest way to start your green roof is to lay down sedum infused mats onto the prepared roof structure.
How do you care for your Sedum Roof?
Sedum should not need watering, but you will need to feed it twice a year with a nitrogen-rich liquid plant feeder. Guttering will also need to be kept clear.
What are the Benefits of Sedum?
Once installed and taken root, your living roof will bring lots of benefits. It is a naturally insulative roof, keeping your warmth inside during winter and drawing away heat in the summer through the process of evaporation. The plants and their substrata will also act like a sponge soaking up rainfall. And, of course, it’s eco-friendly.
If you are interested in a green roofing project then give us a call on 01603 418818. We’ll be happy to give conduct a free, no-obligation survey of your flat roof.
