A green roof not only looks beautiful, it also has numerous advantages. But not every roof can be planted and not all plants are suitable for green roofs. Below you will find out what you need to consider when planting a green roof and how you can plant your roof yourself.
How can I plant plants on my roof?
In order to plant a roof, the roof should be stable and walkable. Extensive greening with shallow-rooted plants such as mosses, sedum species or low grasses is easiest to implement. The costs are around €40 per square meter for a complete set.
The advantages of a green roof
A green roof doesn't just have a visual impact. It brings many advantages for the house and its residents:
- The plants protect the roof from the weather and sunlight.
- Thermal insulation in winter
- Heat protection in summer
- Improvement of the ambient climate through water retention and release as well as pollutant filtering
- Habitat for insects and birds
Green roofs have no disadvantages.
Extensive versus intensive green roofs
In general, there are two types of green roofs: extensive and intensive. While extensive green roofs apply layers of 6 to 24cm to the roof, intensive 25cm applies up to one meter of soil or layer. The choice of plants is very limited with extensive greening; with intensive greening, an entire garden can be planted on the roof.
The prerequisite for being able to plant a roof
A green roof adds a considerable amount of additional weight to the roof. A layer just a few centimeters thick can weigh up to 120kg per square meter when wet. Therefore, not every roof is suitable for greening. Stable sloping roofs can usually be planted without any problems; flat roofs of free-standing carports may not be suitable for such weight. The general rule is: If the roof is accessible, it can also be planted, at least with extensive green roofs, i.e. a less thick layer of plants. If in doubt, you should definitely consult a structural engineer.
What is used to plant a roof?
With extensive green roofs, only shallow-rooted plants can be planted. Common ones are:
- Moose
- Sedum species
- low grasses
How much does roof planting cost?
You can easily install extensive green roofs on a flat roof yourself - ideally with a commercially available complete set. You can get these online from just €40 per square meter and they usually contain all the foils, substrates and fleeces as well as seeds (€16.00 on Amazon) or sprouts. You can find out more about the costs and the complete packages here.
Tip
Do you want to plant your own roof? Here you will find a short guide with all the important information.
