A green roof not only makes sense from an ecological point of view, a natural roof also visually enhances the garden house. However, before you start planning and designing, you should check the stability of your arbor. Depending on the roof area, 50 to 150 kilos of weight can be placed on the roof. Before implementation, the manufacturer must ask whether the roof can actually handle this additional load.
How do I create a green roof for my garden house?
For a green roof in the garden house you need protective fleece, root protection film, filter fleece, drainage plates, substrate and suitable plants such as herbs and sedum. Make sure you have a stable roof structure, good water drainage and an appropriate watering regime.
Tools required
The tool list is short. In addition to a ladder, all you need is a sharp cutter knife (€14.00 on Amazon) and a rake.
Materials needed
- Protective fleece
- Root protection film
- Filter fleece
- Drainage plates
- Substrate
- suitable plants such as herbs and sedum
Lay out root protection film
Conventional roofing made of bitumen shingles is not enough, as they are quickly penetrated by the roots of the plant. Therefore, a special root protection film must be laid out with sufficient overhang. Please note that bitumen and PVC do not mix, and place a separating layer, including fleece, between the foil and roofing felt.
Ensure water drainage
Even if the green roof can store a large part of the rainwater, good water drainage is necessary. For this reason, cut a small opening in the root protection film to drain the water into the gutter.
Laying protective, filter fleece and drainage panels
These are placed, also with sufficient overhang, in the order:
- Protective fleece
- Drainage panels (apply them overlapping)
- Filter fleece
spread out over the root protection film. Think about water drainage in every situation.
Spread the substrate
Now it's time to distribute the soil evenly, which gives the plants the support they need. Smooth these well with a rake.
The actual greening
Sedum sprouts form the basis, as they are very undemanding and take root quickly. Scatter the herb seeds mixed with sand over it.
Water
Since good water drainage has been ensured, thorough watering can now be carried out. Water the green roof regularly in the first few weeks of dry weather.
Tip
A green roof can be easily combined with solar cells. This makes you independent of the regional power grid in a very environmentally friendly way.