Succulent Plant Identification | Succulent Sphere | Containers for Succulents
Soil for green roofs has to have certain characteristics. It must be
light weight, have good water retention, and also good drainage. It also needs to have some nutrient value, because most green roofs are built and then forgotten about.

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.
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.
Disadvantages are the lack of nutrients, and potential to become eroded by windy conditions or flooding. It also lacks microflora and microfauna, the tiny animals and plants that colonize a native soil.
There is now evidence that it’s advantageous to use soil native to the area and utilize the micorrhizae - the tiny animals, yeasts and bacteria - endemic to the locale. This will enable the soil to function more fully and as an indigenous soil, make it easier for wild plants, microflora and wildlife to colonize it.
Many green roof professionals recommend adding mycorrhizae and lightweight drainage material such as pumice to native soils. This is the best of both worlds, as the native soil now has the ability to drain more fully, (its one drawback) and provides a symbiotic fungus which enables better root growth.
Regardless of which type of soil you decide to use, a mulch of lava rock or other stone will be beneficial.
Some green roof builders have concerns that the lava rock could potentially puncture the liner, but if applied correctly, this shouldn’t be a problem. There will be a consistent layer of soil on the roof over the liner or root barrier, and once the plants are in place the mulch can be carefully put around the plants.
It’s not recommended to use wood based mulches such as wood chips, shavings or bark mulch due to the fire risk and the potential to be blown away by strong winds.
Some advantages to using lava rock mulch are:
Fertilization of green roofs is very basic. Most of the plants recommended for use on green roofs prefer a lean soil, only requiring a small amount of organic material initially. After a few seasons the system should become self sustaining with the dropping of foliage and accumulation of dust particles from the air.
The best type of fertilizer is worm castings which are easy to spread and organic. One annual application will be adequate.
It’s unknown at this time if chemical fertilizers may potentially
create an environmentally damaging run-off, but evidence is pointing in
that direction. It would detract from the whole purpose of attempting
to enhance the environment, only to pollute local waterways with
chemical run off from your green roof. This is additionally important
if you plan to capture the rainwater from your roof to use in
irrigation. My preference always is to choose an organic fertilizer for my plantings, and green roofs are no exception.
The main care that your green roof will need is to assess the drainage periodically, and remove any buildup of organic material that may cause a fire risk.
Plants that potentially will need more care in this respect are grasses and herbaceous perennials which create debris around the crown.
Most green roof Sedum and other hardy succulent plants such as Sempervivum produce a very small amount of debris so this isn’t a concern.
The art of green roof building is still in its infancy, and much more experimentation will have to take place before it becomes a science.
Every day, new information is released from studies done on all aspects of green roofs, from tiny sheds to huge office buildings, giving even more impetus to green roofs.
More green roof professionals as well as home owners and gardeners like us are getting excited by this old yet new technology.
I hope to see many more green roofs of all kinds and sizes in my home town soon.

Green Roofs
Green Roof Plants
Green Roof Sedum
The focus is on landscaping with
easy care drought tolerant plants like Sedum, Sempervivum and thyme and using natural materials
to build
rock retaining walls and it's easy to see why;
Thyme lawns or steps are drought resistant and tough enough for any environmental challenges.
It used to be that once in a while these kinds of plants would come to the fore, and successfully maneuver dry summers, but now it's obvious that these are the most suited to what is becoming the norm.
Courtyard landscaping, flower garden plans and landscaping with rocks give your front yard landscape a distinct ambiance.
Interested in learning how to build a patio? See this page for patio design ideas.
Whichever way you slice it, dry gardens, xeriscaping and
water conservation are here to stay.
Seeing how beautiful these unique landscapes are and how well they perform in challenging conditions will encourage others to find unique plants to use in their own xeric garden.
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