[box]Guest Post[/box]
Extensive Garden Roof system
With growing population in urban centers, there is a dangerous concentration of concreteness. These urban centers form intense heat islands that tip the ecological balance. Flora, fauna or natural lakes and water bodies can breathe life into the metros, but their number is gradually shrinking. The only natural gardens seen are either within a frame or printed on wall paper. But modernization has brought this wonderful concept of landscaped roofs, engineered to spring out from any terrace. This concept is centuries old but a growing need for a quality urban life, makes it all the more pertinent in present times. Green vegetation has a therapeutic and recreational value besides cutting energy costs and draining storm water efficiently. Technology has made landscaping possible even on sloping roofs.
Light Weight Roof Garden
Some buildings may not be structurally fit to have a roof garden as the soil system, and water can be heavy. In some buildings, the terrace is inaccessible and maintenance of the garden quite impossible. Here the extensive roof garden system is most suitable. The garden is more important for lowering the temperatures in the building and enhances its looks than for any recreational purpose.
The Sloping Roof Garden
Hydrotech’s Garden Roof Assembly has been designed to fit sloping roofs too. A green cover that can be viewed from ground level is possible with the extensive assembly. The soil is carefully blended with minerals and organic medium to retain moisture and support the growth, so no equipment for watering is required. Technical support is needed to tackle the slope and soil retention.
The Lawn Roof Garden
Lawns grown for recreational purposes are possible with the intensive lawn assembly. As grasses require a deeper bed, the growing media is anywhere from 6″ to 36″. The depth depends on the type of plant to be grown as even shrubs and flowering trees subsist on them. It would be better to choose trees with fibrous roots and not tap roots as it will damage the roof. The drainage layer has to be carefully chosen to allow excess water to flow down smoothly. An irrigation system is very necessary for the lawn garden roof assembly. Regular maintenance of weeding, trimming and maintaining the moisture content is essential.
Intensive Garden Roof
Recreational areas with garden architecture like gazebos, pavements for walking, fountains and other artifacts are easy to be included in intensive lawn assemblies. Apart from lawns, the landscape can also have limitless types of flowering shrubs, plants and even small trees. Hyacinths, lilies, grapes, roses and crocuses can grow in this garden. This garden usually needs regular maintenance like mowing, fertilizing and weeding. These plants/trees require more water so the soil bed is anywhere from 6″ to 36″. Even the organic content is more than in the extensive roof garden. This landscape will need an irrigation system with special attention to proper, unobstructed drainage of water.
Vertical Garden Roof
Another way of landscaping is vertical gardening. Vertical gardening or square foot gardening is using the walls of a building instead of the terrace. The traditional method is to form a trellis on the wall and train a creeper or vine along it. New ideas take this a little further. Plants are integrated into the walls of a building and containers and supports added, to be used for planting. Plants that are local to the area are easier to maintain. They can also be changed according to the season.
About the author: Brianne is a blogger by profession. She loves writing on technology and luxury. Beside this she is fond of gadgets. Recently an article on Symbian Themes attracted her attention. These days she is busy in writing an article on best coffee shops in America.
