The rooftop garden is an island of wildlife in the sky. Roof garden - a green corner for a good rest in the heart of the stone jungle Roof garden of a high-rise building

In this article, we will talk about the benefits of arranging a lawn and a roof garden, the features and varieties of this type of landscaping, the stages of creating a green roof, the possibility of arranging a roof garden different types, requirements for the strength of the base and creating a roof garden with your own hands.

Green roof, on which instead of the usual slate or soft roof grows a lawn or a real lush garden, today it is becoming an increasingly popular option for arranging the roof of buildings. Moreover, the garden can appear not only on the roof of an ordinary private house. Such green roofs are no longer uncommon. high-rise buildings megacities.

A rooftop garden has many advantages, but only one drawback - it is not so easy to equip it without resorting to the help of landscape designers and builders. About the features, varieties and some technical points creating a roof garden and will be discussed in this article.

Benefits of a green roof

If you think that the grass and trees on the roof are not so long ago, modern trend, you are deeply mistaken. Remember at least the famous Gardens of Babylon in ancient Babylon! In Norway, roofs covered with turf, peat, birch bark and overgrown with grasses and mosses are a national tradition that has existed for several centuries. Today, green roofs are planned to be returned to the streets of their cities by the authorities of Copenhagen and Oslo, considering this option to be “relevant, economical and in line with the modern desire to use environmentally clean materials". In addition, green roofs can be seen in San Francisco, Toronto, Zurich, Basel, Bordeaux, London, Lyon, Madrid and other cities.

Why are rooftop gardens, including multi-storey buildings, so popular? There are several very good reasons for this:

Improvement of the ecological situation. This moment is especially important for large cities, where it is difficult to allocate space for a park zone among asphalt and concrete. Greenery on the roof effectively purifies the air, retaining more than 25% harmful substances and dust in the atmosphere. For example, all the same Copenhagen authorities expect to reduce the greenhouse effect in the city to zero by 2015 with the help of green roofs.
Increased sound and heat insulation. The roof garden will help reduce background noise during indoor areas, which is also important for the inhabitants of houses located near busy highways. In addition, the house under the green roof will be warm in winter and cool in summer, which will reduce the cost of air conditioning and heating.
A roof under a garden or lawn will last several years longer than an ordinary roof, as the plants and soil layer will reliably protect it from damage. external influences and weather conditions. The service life of such a roof with proper care of the garden exceeds 20 years.
Space saving and building compensation. The roof garden, as it were, compensates nature for the area that was occupied during the construction of the house. Thus, the local microclimate is preserved, and the owner of the site again receives his lawn, which was destroyed during the construction of the foundation of the house.
Rain water retention. This advantage is relevant for cities where during heavy rains sewer system may not be able to cope with large quantity water. Rooftop gardens and lawns absorb some of the precipitation, preventing it from reaching the streets and mixing with sewage. Quite effective method flood prevention.
Garden on flat roof- this is an additional resting place for all residents of the house, that is, another usable area.
A house under a green roof is always beautiful, unusual and immediately attracts attention.

In light of all of the above advantages and disadvantages, it becomes clear why rooftop gardens continue to gain popularity in many Western metropolitan areas.

Varieties of rooftop gardens

Green roofing can be divided into two main types:

extensive. Such roof gardening involves the use of light soil, whose thickness varies from 5 to 15 cm. This is the easiest option to protect the roof from external influences and create an autonomous ecosystem. In the case of extensive landscaping, only unpretentious plants that do not need regular watering or careful care. Extensive roof gardening is the creation of a continuous carpet of evergreens, this option does not imply any recreation areas. Most often, this method of landscaping is used on the roofs of gazebos, garages, outbuildings and private houses. It is convenient that the weight of a thin and light layer of soil, together with plants, averages only about 20 kg per plant. square meter roof, so additional strengthening of the base is not required. Another type of extensive landscaping is ordinary tubs with indoor plants transferred in the spring to a flat roof. In this case, it is also possible to equip a recreation area here, but, of course, this option cannot be called a real garden or lawn.
intensive. In this case, a real garden appears on the roof with walking paths, a picnic area, gazebos, pergolas and even ponds. Of course, planting shrubs and trees requires a solid foundation that can withstand a layer of soil up to 1.5 m thick. Most often, intensive gardening is used in multi-storey buildings, hotels, shopping malls and other fairly large facilities. If the owners of a private house intend to create such a full-fledged garden on their roof, then they will need the opinion of specialists who will determine whether they will withstand bearing walls and the ground is such a solid weight. With intensive landscaping, the total load per square meter of roofing can reach 700 kg.

According to the type of roof on which a garden or lawn will appear, landscaping is usually divided into pitched and flat. On the pitched roof only extensive landscaping is possible, but on flat roof both extensive and intensive landscaping can be applied - it all depends on the strength of the foundation and the financial capabilities of the owners.

Norwegian green roofs are usually pitched, so there are no seating areas here - only an even layer. green grass

Safety requirements

As mentioned in the previous section, extensive landscaping can be used on both pitched and flat roofs. However, the slope pitched roof must not exceed 30 °C. Otherwise, the waterproofing layer, drainage and soil simply will not hold on to a too steep surface, and the useful soil layer will be washed away by rain.

The base of a flat roof must withstand a solid load. A layer of ordinary soil with a thickness of only 5 cm and an area of one square meter can weigh up to 100 kg, and the soil is just one of the layers of the foundation of the future garden. The use of special light substrates and lightweight drainage systems, but their choice requires a careful approach and consultation with experts.

It should also be borne in mind that in winter snow will accumulate on a flat roof and the load on the roof can increase to 400 kg per square meter. And planting trees, even stunted ones, and shrubs increases the soil layer and, accordingly, increases the weight of the green roof to 700 kg per square meter.

Landscape design experts advise, in order to reduce the load on the roof, to plant large trees and place massive objects in the places where they are bearing structures.

Several Yet important points when creating a roof garden: attention should be paid to wind protection, strengthening vertical structures, creating a reliable parapet along the edge of the roof and providing convenient, safe access to the garden from the top floor.

Roof garden technology

If you look at the structure of the rooftop garden in a section, then most of all it will look like a multi-layer cake, the top layer of which is directly plants.

The base of the roof garden in section looks like a pie with several layers, each of which is necessary to create whole ecosystem with its microclimate and green inhabitants: 1 - concrete slab; 2 - waterproofing; 3 - thermal insulation; 4 - root protective membrane; 5 - geotextile; 6 - drainage layer; 7 - geotextile; 8 - soil; 9 - plants

Consider each individual layer and roof greening technology:

The first layer of the garden or lawn on the roof will be the supporting structures of the roof itself: a concrete floor slab in the case of a flat roof and continuous crate pitched roof. Of course, if there is slate or tile on the pitched roof, they should first be removed. If the basis of the future garden is a flat concrete slab, you will have to take care of the presence of a slope of 1.5-5 degrees towards the drain. You can create such a slight slope on a flat roof using a cement-sand screed.
The second layer is waterproofing. It should be as reliable as possible, since in the event of a leak, all the upper layers will have to be removed for repairs, and this is a very time-consuming, costly and lengthy process. As a waterproofing today, welded rolls are commonly used. bitumen-polymer materials. Their lower layer is attached to the base mechanically, and upper layer fused, all seams are securely soldered. The waterproofing layer along the edges of the roof should be bent to a height exceeding the thickness of the insulation.
The third layer is thermal insulation. This layer is created from cork boards, extruded polystyrene foam or polyurethane foam. Insulation plates are stacked tightly to each other, if the pressure upper layers not enough, you can connect them together special glue. It is not necessary to fasten polystyrene or polyurethane boards to the base.
The fourth layer is root protection. In some cases, the laying of this additional layer can be abandoned. For example, if it is not planned to plant trees on the roof and an ordinary lawn will grow here, then waterproofing is quite enough. Otherwise, landscape design experts advise, for reliability, to fix a root-protective membrane over the heat-insulating layer, which will prevent the root system from sprouting and damaging the base. Ideal for these purposes is an elastic polymer gasket with special cells that retain moisture, or a film with a metal coating.
The fifth, intermediate layer is geotextile. This is roll material, the strips of which overlap each other. Remember that plant roots can easily overcome geotextiles - that is why an additional root protection layer is needed.
Sixth, drainage layer. The thickness of this layer is from 5 to 10 cm. The drainage layer is necessary to remove excess water, as well as retain moisture during a drought. The drainage layer is connected to the drainage system. Typically, perlite coke, crushed pumice, polyamide, or expanded clay gravel- Relatively lightweight materials. You can also use loosened clay and regular gravel, but such a layer will be heavier. Often in drainage layer perforated pipes are laid, which improves water flow.
Seventh layer - another layer of geotextile is laid on the drainage, which will serve as a filter for small particles leached out of the soil.
The eighth layer is soil. Only now can you start creating the last layer, in which the plants will be planted. As a substrate for a roof garden, a special light mixture of soil is usually used with the addition of sand, perlite, peat, expanded clay, clay, wood chips, slate and crushed bark. The thickness of the soil usually varies from 5 to 50 cm, the substrate is distributed over the roof depending on the needs of the plants. Ordinary soil for a roof garden is not recommended.

Only after all eight layers of the base are laid and prepared, you can proceed directly to planting plants. Remember that plants on the roof will grow in conditions close to mountain and desert - under the wind and sun. Therefore, it is worth choosing only the most unpretentious species. Trees on the roof are usually planted dwarf, ornamental, with a not too extensive root system.

The rooftop garden, planted with creeping trees, low shrubs, frost-resistant grass and unpretentious flowers, looks advantageous. Such a garden will not need daily care and will easily survive the winter in the open air.

In general, the technology for creating a garden and a lawn on a flat and pitched roof is similar. However, the pitched roof already has a slope for water to drain, so a drainage layer can be dispensed with. There is no need for additional insulation- this layer is usually located under the rafters, in the attic. Thus, the technology for creating a lawn on a pitched roof usually consists of laying waterproofing, a root protection membrane, geotextiles and a layer of soil. However, along the edge of the pitched roof, you will have to additionally create a reliable restrictive board, which will prevent the soil from sliding. It is also advisable to put a special net or grate on top of the root protection layer, which are usually used to strengthen slopes.

DIY roof garden

As you can see, the creation of a roof garden is a rather complicated, lengthy process that requires certain knowledge, experience and special materials. Immediately, without preparation, starting intensive gardening of the roof with your own hands is a risky business. However, you can use one of the following, simpler and available options arranging a garden or lawn on the roof:

On a flat roof, you can simply beautifully arrange tubs, flowerpots and pots with plants. Surrounded by such a green zone, there may appear cozy corner for rest with furniture and barbecue.
Extensive landscaping requires less cost and can be created even on an ordinary pitched roof of a garage or cottage.

On a flat roof, you can select a separate corner where the green zone will be located. In this area, a flat recess is constructed from a waterproof frost-resistant film that does not contain substances harmful to plants, the edges of which rise by 5 centimeters. The sides can be fixed with boards or stones. A layer of gravel is poured inside the excavation for drainage, and on top - ready substrate. Everything, the flower garden is ready, it remains only to moisten the ground and plant the seeds. True, from such a "flower bed" you will have to regularly pour excess water(for this you need to lower one of the edges of the film side). Of course, you can’t plant trees here, but grass and unpretentious flowers will take root quite well.
Ready-made landscaping systems from companies specializing in landscape design. Such a system is a ready-made "pie" with all the necessary layers, which will greatly facilitate the process of arranging the garden. Similar systems are now offered German companies FlorDepot and ZinCo. With the help of such ready systems, light and easy to operate, you can set up a rooftop lawn in just one day.

If your dream is a full-fledged roof garden, most likely you will have to turn to specialists. Remember that not only landscape designers but also builders. Best to go to the studio. landscape design which works directly with construction company. It is the builders who will perform all the preliminary work on laying waterproofing and installation solid foundation for the roof garden.

The cost of specialist services depends on many factors and in most cases is calculated individually for each customer.

Despite all the hardships, costs, and need for aftercare, the idea of a rooftop garden looks very appealing. And this is not surprising, because even the townspeople in several generations have this desire to spend as much time as possible in nature and create their own paradise in the city center, even if there is clearly not enough land for this.

Even the most scrupulous homebody has had to deal with the problem of caring for plants while he is away. Business trips, vacations, interesting trips seem incompatible with the desire to start a collection of indoor plants. Many, precisely because of the inability to provide indoor plants with constant care, completely refuse to green their rooms. And in vain! How to take care of indoor plants when going on vacation, we will tell in the article.

Classic hummus is a basic chickpea puree spread spread throughout the Middle East. Hummus served on its own cold appetizer or as a dip with pita, pita or bread. Hummus prepared according to this recipe will turn out thick, very tasty. However, you can diversify its taste and add fried tomatoes or fried Bell pepper, stewed spinach, pumpkin puree. The dish contains a lot of dietary fiber and vegetable protein.

June is the beginning of the long-awaited summer. At every step you can find abundance flowering plants. This month, most of the work on planting seedlings and seedlings of fruit and ornamental crops completed. Before collection and processing bountiful harvest still far. Gardeners have time to calmly stroll through the garden and enjoy the beauty of decorative perennials. It is almost impossible to describe in one article all the plants that bloom in June.

The end of spring and the beginning of summer have one important feature for gardeners - plants during this period grow intensively and increase the ovary, future harvest while they consume great amount water and nutrients. Therefore - what? That's right, they need help! Especially in regions with poor and sandy soils, in which there is little nutrition, and the water leaves like sand through your fingers. Plants during this period need regular watering and fertilizing.

Delicious oriental puff pastry pie with meat, vegetables, dates and boiled eggs. This dish can be prepared from the leftovers of yesterday's stew, boiled meat or the remains of a baked chicken. I advise you to grind boiled meat and baked chicken and season well - pour over melted butter, sprinkle with ground cumin, fragrant paprika and chili. Otherwise, the cooking process is simple - roll out the dough, lay the filling in layers and send it to the preheated oven for half an hour.

Among the fruit-bearing plants that can be grown in a room format, cyphomandra in last years became a real hit. Having moved from greenhouses and botanical gardens to rooms, the legendary (and luxurious) tomato tree further enhanced the decorativeness of greenery, but did not lose its ability to bear fruit. Getting a crop of fragrant, sweet and exotic fruits to the table and at the same time becoming the owner of a real tub exotic is a temptation for many.

Falafel - vegetarian chickpea patties. This is useful and tasty dish suitable for lenten menus and vegetarians, as there are no animal products among the ingredients. Ready falafel can be stored in the refrigerator for 2 days. Before cooking, chickpeas are washed, soaked in 2 liters of cold spring or filtered water. Water is changed 2-3 times. Usually the beans are soaked for 8 to 24 hours, during which they swell, changing color from pale yellow to warm golden.

Among green vegetables, spinach occupies one of the first places in terms of its beneficial and nutritious properties. Long time it was considered that in this herbaceous plant originally from Asia contains a large number of iron - as much as 35 mg per 100 g of product. And although the real figures are 10 times lower, the myth did its job and gave spinach world fame. For useful and even medicinal properties it is used as an ingredient in salads and various first and second courses.

It is called creeping hops, beer hops, curly hops, bitterness... This powerful and beautiful vine has everything to be useful to man. Hops are revered by many peoples of the world, it is a symbol of fertility, strong economy, prowess, happiness and longevity, it is depicted on coats of arms and coins. But many summer residents are not at all happy with him. Hops tend to grow rapidly, inhibiting growth cultivated plants around you. But is it really necessary to fight it?

The protracted spring, cool weather, temperature fluctuations and frequent rainfall have already created stressful situation and provoked the appearance of various diseases for many years and annual crops. Already found on the leaves of fruit scab and monilial burn. On vegetables - late blight and peronosporosis. Pests also make themselves felt. The Colorado potato beetle began to activate and mate. Aphids, mites, leafworms, various mining moths are observed everywhere.

Two years ago, at the beginning of summer, while walking in the local park, I saw interesting plant. I was lucky, it was just in bloom, and I immediately realized that I needed this in my garden. And although at that moment I did not know what it was and how it was called, I stocked up on cuttings. Then already familiar plant lovers suggested: I became the owner of a buddleia, a shrub that is rare in our parks and gardens. It's a pity! It has several advantages for which it is worth growing it.

Pork with Eggplant - A delicious stew with vegetables and spicy rice is easy and simple to cook for dinner or lunch. It will take about half an hour to cook, so this recipe can be categorized as "if you need dinner quickly." The dish turns out hearty, fragrant, spicy. Turmeric colors the ingredients in a beautiful golden yellow color, cloves, cardamom, garlic and chili pepper add savory notes to the dish. Choose lean meat for this recipe.

The Colorado potato beetle is such a common pest of our gardens that not only summer residents and country residents know about it, but also people far from Agriculture. This representative of the leaf beetle family came to us from warm Mexico. But very quickly adapted to the harsh local conditions and thrive and prosper. The Colorado potato beetle does not disdain the tops of tomatoes. About how to get rid of colorado potato beetle we will tell in this article.

seed propagation in the garden strawberry familiar to us, unfortunately, leads to the appearance of less productive plants and weaker bushes. But another type of these sweet berries - alpine strawberries, can be successfully grown from seeds. Let's learn about the main advantages and disadvantages of this crop, consider the main varieties and features of agricultural technology. The information presented in this article will help you decide whether it is worth giving her a place in the berry.

Despite the confusion that has accumulated over the past decades with the name "Christmas cactus", one of the most recognizable and colorful forest cacti, epiphyllums remain everyone's favorite. Leafless, flattened stems, strikingly profusely flowering, hybrid epiphyllums with their hanging shoots and delicate flowers do not require special from the owners complex care. They are able to become the most bright plant from among the flowering succulents in any collection.

In cities, there is less and less space left for gardens, parks and squares where you can take a walk and breathe fresh air to admire the beautiful plants.

In Europe, especially in Germany, England, France, Italy, gardens on the roofs of houses have become common.

At present, in Germany, the project of almost every new building has a roof garden. But this is not only a good type of roof, but also a part of the ecosystem transferred to the heavenly sky.

A roof garden has a lot of advantages, but its only drawback is the difficulty in organizing, since you will have to involve real experts in their field - you cannot create this on your own. However, any roof can be greened.

Pros of rooftop gardens

1. Air purification by roof plants.

It is believed that the "green" roof is capable of retaining a huge part of carbon dioxide from the air.

2. Compensation for nature.

The greenery that was destroyed during the construction of the house will be restored, only a little higher - on the roof.

3. Increasing sound insulation due to the roof garden. The sounds of big cities will not break into living quarters as much.

In addition, such a garden regulates the temperature inside the room, retaining heat in winter and keeping heat out in summer.

4. It is also believed that a roof with plants sheds the life of the roof itself, as the level of exposure to it becomes somewhat lower. With normal care, such a roof will be safe and sound for 20 years or more.

5. When it rains, such a garden retains some of the water that would flow in a huge stream onto sidewalks and roads. As a result, the flow of water decreases, the greenery absorbs moisture, of course, if such a garden is not the only one in the city.

6. Great place to relax.

7. Houses with a roof garden look beautiful no matter how tall they are. True, the lawn on a skyscraper can only be seen from a higher skyscraper, or from an airplane.

Types of landscaping

1. Extensive landscaping

The soil layer here is small - 5-15 cm, as a result of which all landscaping will not be very difficult and will not require additional roof reinforcement, since it will weigh no more than 20 kg per square meter. As a rule, such landscaping does not have any resting places, it is a continuous lawn, where evergreens can also grow, which do not require special regular care. Such gardens find a place on the roofs multi-storey buildings, but most often they are used on the roofs of garages, small houses, gazebos, etc.

2. Intensive landscaping

This is a real garden, only on the roof. Here, in addition to thoughtfully planted plants, there are paths, and gazebos, and a picnic area, and sometimes even ponds. But such a place requires appropriate characteristics from the building: for example, the load-bearing walls and the foundation of the house must be strong enough to carry the load of a meter or more layer of soil and all plants and objects located on it. After all, the total load can reach 700 kg per square meter. The relevant decision after the analysis of the building is made by a special commission.

Windscreens - wind barriers

In order to reduce the influence of winds on a rooftop garden, windscreens can be used. It is desirable that these were not solid fences, but structures permeable to air, for example, trellises entwined with lianas. The role of wind screens can be performed by dense crowns of shrubs installed in windy areas of the garden. Such barriers significantly reduce the activity of wind currents and allow almost any ornamental plants to be planted on the roof.

In this article, we will talk about the advantages of arranging a lawn and a roof garden, the features and varieties of this type of landscaping, the stages of creating a green roof, the possibility of arranging a garden on roofs of various types, the requirements for the strength of the base and creating a roof garden with your own hands.

A green roof, on which a lawn or a real lush garden grows instead of the usual slate or soft roof, is becoming an increasingly popular option for arranging the roof of buildings today. Moreover, the garden can appear not only on the roof of an ordinary private house. Such green roofs are no longer a rarity in high-rise buildings of megacities.

A rooftop garden has many advantages, but only one drawback - it is not so easy to equip it without resorting to the help of landscape designers and builders. The features, varieties and some technical aspects of creating a roof garden will be discussed in this article.

Benefits of a green roof

If you think that grass and trees on the roof is a recent, modern trend, you are deeply mistaken. Remember at least the famous Gardens of Babylon in ancient Babylon! In Norway, roofs covered with turf, peat, birch bark and overgrown with grasses and mosses are a national tradition that has existed for several centuries. Today, the authorities of Copenhagen and Oslo plan to return green roofs to the streets of their cities, considering this option to be “relevant, economical and in line with the modern desire to use environmentally friendly materials.” In addition, green roofs can be seen in San Francisco, Toronto, Zurich, Basel, Bordeaux, London, Lyon, Madrid and other cities.

Why are rooftop gardens, including multi-storey buildings, so popular? There are several very good reasons for this:

Improvement of the ecological situation. This moment is especially important for large cities, where it is difficult to allocate space for a park zone among asphalt and concrete. Greenery on the roof effectively purifies the air, retaining more than 25% of harmful substances and dust contained in the atmosphere. For example, all the same Copenhagen authorities expect to reduce the greenhouse effect in the city to zero by 2015 with the help of green roofs.
Increased sound and heat insulation. A roof garden will help reduce indoor noise, which is also important for residents of houses located near busy highways. In addition, the house under the green roof will be warm in winter and cool in summer, which will reduce the cost of air conditioning and heating.
A roof under a garden or lawn will last several years longer than an ordinary roof, as the plants and soil layer will reliably protect it from external influences and weather conditions. The service life of such a roof with proper care of the garden exceeds 20 years.
Space saving and building compensation. The roof garden, as it were, compensates nature for the area that was occupied during the construction of the house. Thus, the local microclimate is preserved, and the owner of the site again receives his lawn, which was destroyed during the construction of the foundation of the house.
Rain water retention. This advantage is relevant for cities where during heavy rains the sewer system may not be able to cope with a large amount of water. Rooftop gardens and lawns absorb some of the precipitation, preventing it from reaching the streets and mixing with sewage. A very effective way to prevent flooding.
A flat roof garden is an additional resting place for all residents of the house, that is, another useful area.
A house under a green roof is always beautiful, unusual and immediately attracts attention.

In light of all of the above advantages and disadvantages, it becomes clear why rooftop gardens continue to gain popularity in many Western metropolitan areas.

Varieties of rooftop gardens

Green roofing can be divided into two main types:

extensive. Such roof gardening involves the use of light soil, whose thickness varies from 5 to 15 cm. This is the easiest option to protect the roof from external influences and create an autonomous ecosystem. In the case of extensive landscaping, only unpretentious plants are used that do not need regular watering or careful care. Extensive landscaping of the roof is the creation of a continuous carpet of evergreens, this option does not imply any recreation areas. Most often, this method of landscaping is used on the roofs of gazebos, garages, outbuildings and private houses. It is convenient that the weight of a thin and light layer of soil, together with plants, averages only about 20 kg per square meter of roof, so it will not require additional strengthening of the base. Another type of extensive landscaping is ordinary tubs with indoor plants, transferred in the spring to a flat roof. In this case, it is also possible to equip a recreation area here, but, of course, this option cannot be called a real garden or lawn.
intensive. In this case, a real garden appears on the roof with walking paths, a picnic area, gazebos, pergolas and even ponds. Of course, planting shrubs and trees requires a solid foundation that can withstand a layer of soil up to 1.5 m thick. Most often, intensive landscaping is used in multi-storey buildings, hotels, shopping centers and other fairly large facilities. If the owners of a private house intend to create such a full-fledged garden on their roof, then they will need the opinion of specialists who will determine whether the load-bearing walls and foundation will withstand such a solid weight. With intensive landscaping, the total load per square meter of roofing can reach 700 kg.

According to the type of roof on which a garden or lawn will appear, landscaping is usually divided into pitched and flat. On a pitched roof, only extensive landscaping is possible, but on a flat roof, both extensive and intensive landscaping can be applied - it all depends on the strength of the foundation and the financial capabilities of the owners.

Norwegian green roofs are usually pitched, so there are no seating areas here - only an even layer of green grass

Safety requirements

As mentioned in the previous section, extensive landscaping can be used on both pitched and flat roofs. However, the slope of the pitched roof must not exceed 30°C. Otherwise, the waterproofing layer, drainage and soil simply will not hold on to a too steep surface, and the useful soil layer will be washed away by rain.

The base of a flat roof must withstand a solid load. A layer of ordinary soil with a thickness of only 5 cm and an area of one square meter can weigh up to 100 kg, and the soil is just one of the layers of the foundation of the future garden. The use of special light substrates and lightweight drainage systems will help reduce the load, but their choice requires a careful approach and consultation with specialists.

Landscape design experts advise planting large trees and placing massive objects in places where load-bearing structures are located to reduce the load on the roof.

A few more important points when creating a roof garden: you should pay attention to wind protection, strengthen vertical structures, create a reliable parapet along the edge of the roof and provide convenient, safe access to the garden from the top floor.

Roof garden technology

If you look at the structure of the rooftop garden in a section, then most of all it will look like a multi-layer cake, the top layer of which is directly plants.

The base of the rooftop garden looks like a cake of several layers, each of which is necessary to create an entire ecosystem with its own microclimate and green inhabitants: 1 - concrete slab; 2 - waterproofing; 3 - thermal insulation; 4 - root protective membrane; 5 - geotextile; 6 - drainage layer; 7 - geotextile; 8 - soil; 9 - plants

Consider each individual layer and roof greening technology:

The first layer of the garden or lawn on the roof will be the supporting structures of the roof itself: a concrete floor slab in the case of a flat roof and a continuous sheathing of a pitched roof. Of course, if there is slate or tile on the pitched roof, they should first be removed. If the basis of the future garden is a flat concrete slab, you will have to take care of the presence of a slope of 1.5-5 degrees towards the drain. You can create such a slight slope on a flat roof using a cement-sand screed.
The second layer is waterproofing. It should be as reliable as possible, since in the event of a leak, all the upper layers will have to be removed for repairs, and this is a very time-consuming, costly and lengthy process. As a waterproofing today, built-up rolled bitumen-polymer materials are usually used. Their lower layer is attached to the base mechanically, and the upper layer is welded, all seams are reliably soldered. The waterproofing layer along the edges of the roof should be bent to a height exceeding the thickness of the insulation.
The third layer is thermal insulation. This layer is created from cork boards, extruded polystyrene foam or polyurethane foam. Insulation plates are stacked tightly to each other, if the pressure of the upper layers is not enough, you can connect them together with special glue. It is not necessary to fasten polystyrene or polyurethane boards to the base.
The fourth layer is root protection. In some cases, the laying of this additional layer can be abandoned. For example, if it is not planned to plant trees on the roof and an ordinary lawn will grow here, then waterproofing is quite enough. Otherwise, landscape design experts advise, for reliability, to fix a root-protective membrane over the heat-insulating layer, which will prevent the root system from sprouting and damaging the base. Ideal for these purposes is an elastic polymer gasket with special cells that retain moisture, or a film with a metal coating.
The fifth, intermediate layer is geotextile. This is a roll material, the strips of which overlap each other. Remember that plant roots can easily overcome geotextiles - that is why an additional root protection layer is needed.
Sixth, drainage layer. The thickness of this layer is from 5 to 10 cm. The drainage layer is necessary to remove excess water, as well as retain moisture during a drought. The drainage layer is connected to the drainage system. Usually, perlite coke, crushed pumice, polyamide or expanded clay gravel are used as drainage - fairly light materials. You can also use loosened clay and regular gravel, but such a layer will be heavier. Often, perforated pipes are laid in the drainage layer, which improves water flow.
The seventh layer - another layer of geotextile is laid on the drainage, which will serve as a filter for small particles washed out of the soil.
The eighth layer is soil. Only now can you start creating the last layer, in which the plants will be planted. The substrate for a roof garden is usually a special light mixture of soil with the addition of sand, perlite, peat, expanded clay, clay, wood chips, slate and crushed bark. The thickness of the soil usually varies from 5 to 50 cm, the substrate is distributed over the roof depending on the needs of the plants. Ordinary soil for a roof garden is not recommended.

In general, the technology for creating a garden and a lawn on a flat and pitched roof is similar. However, the pitched roof already has a slope for water to drain, so a drainage layer can be dispensed with. There is no need for additional insulation - this layer is usually located under the rafters, in the attic. Thus, the technology for creating a lawn on a pitched roof usually consists of laying waterproofing, a root protection membrane, geotextiles and a layer of soil. However, along the edge of the pitched roof, you will have to additionally create a reliable restrictive board, which will prevent the soil from sliding. It is also advisable to put a special net or grate on top of the root protection layer, which are usually used to strengthen slopes.

DIY roof garden

As you can see, the creation of a roof garden is a rather complicated, lengthy process that requires certain knowledge, experience and special materials. Immediately, without preparation, starting intensive gardening of the roof with your own hands is a risky business. However, you can use one of the following, simpler and more affordable options for arranging a garden or lawn on the roof:

On a flat roof, you can simply beautifully arrange tubs, flowerpots and pots with plants. Surrounded by such a green area, a cozy corner for relaxation with furniture and barbecue facilities may appear.
Extensive landscaping is less expensive and can be created even on a conventional pitched roof of a garage or cottage.

On a flat roof, you can select a separate corner where the green zone will be located. In this area, a flat recess is constructed from a waterproof frost-resistant film that does not contain substances harmful to plants, the edges of which rise by 5 centimeters. The sides can be fixed with boards or stones. A layer of gravel is poured inside the excavation for drainage, and a ready-made substrate is placed on top. Everything, the flower garden is ready, it remains only to moisten the ground and plant the seeds. True, from such a “flower bed” you will have to regularly pour out excess water (for this you need to lower one of the edges of the side of the film). Of course, you can’t plant trees here, but grass and unpretentious flowers will take root quite well.
Ready-made landscaping systems from companies specializing in landscape design. Such a system is a ready-made "pie" with all the necessary layers, which will greatly facilitate the process of arranging the garden. Similar systems are currently offered by the German companies FlorDepot and ZinCo. With these ready-made systems, which are light and easy to use, you can set up a rooftop lawn in just one day.

If your dream is a full-fledged roof garden, most likely you will have to turn to specialists. Remember that not only landscape designers, but also builders will take part in roof gardening. It is more expedient to contact a landscape design studio that directly cooperates with a construction company. It is the builders who will carry out all the preliminary work on laying the waterproofing and arranging a reliable foundation for the roof garden.

The cost of specialist services depends on many factors and in most cases is calculated individually for each customer.

Despite all the hardships, costs, and need for aftercare, the idea of a rooftop garden looks very appealing. And this is not surprising, because even the citizens of several generations have this desire to spend as much time as possible in nature and create their own piece of paradise in the city center, even if there is clearly not enough land for this.

Such green roofs are no longer a rarity in high-rise buildings of megacities.

A roof garden has many advantages and only one drawback - it is not so easy to equip it without resorting to the help of landscape designers and builders. The features, varieties and some technical aspects of creating a roof garden will be discussed in this article.

Benefits of a green roof

If you think that grass and trees on the roof are not so long ago, a modern trend, you are deeply mistaken.

Remember at least the famous Gardens of Babylon in ancient Babylon!

In Norway, roofs covered with turf, peat, birch bark and overgrown with grasses and mosses are a national tradition that has existed for several centuries.

Today, the authorities of Copenhagen and Oslo plan to return green roofs to the streets of their cities, considering this option to be “relevant, economical and in line with the modern desire to use environmentally friendly materials.”

In addition, green roofs can be seen in San Francisco, Toronto, Zurich, Basel, Bordeaux, London, Lyon, Madrid and other cities.

Why are rooftop gardens, including multi-storey buildings, so popular? There are several very good reasons for this:

Improvement of the ecological situation. This moment is especially important for large cities, where it is difficult to allocate space for a park zone among asphalt and concrete. Greenery on the roof effectively purifies the air, retaining more than 25% of harmful substances and dust contained in the atmosphere. For example, all the same Copenhagen authorities expect to reduce the greenhouse effect in the city to zero by 2015 with the help of green roofs.
Increased sound and heat insulation. A roof garden will help reduce indoor noise, which is also important for residents of houses located near busy highways. In addition, the house under the green roof will be warm in winter and cool in summer, which will reduce the cost of air conditioning and heating.
A roof under a garden or lawn will last several years longer than an ordinary roof, as the plants and soil layer will reliably protect it from external influences and weather conditions. The service life of such a roof with proper care of the garden exceeds 20 years.
Space saving and building compensation. The roof garden, as it were, compensates nature for the area that was occupied during the construction of the house. Thus, the local microclimate is preserved, and the owner of the site again receives his lawn, which was destroyed during the construction of the foundation of the house.
Rain water retention. This advantage is relevant for cities where during heavy rains the sewer system may not be able to cope with a large amount of water. Rooftop gardens and lawns absorb some of the precipitation, preventing it from reaching the streets and mixing with sewage. A very effective way to prevent flooding.
A flat roof garden is an additional resting place for all residents of the house, that is, another useful area.
A house under a green roof is always beautiful, unusual and immediately attracts attention.

In light of all of the above advantages and disadvantages, it becomes clear why rooftop gardens continue to gain popularity in many Western metropolitan areas.

Varieties of rooftop gardens

Green roofing can be divided into two main types:

extensive.

Such roof gardening involves the use of light soil, whose thickness varies from 5 to 15 cm. This is the easiest option to protect the roof from external influences and create an autonomous ecosystem. In the case of extensive landscaping, only unpretentious plants are used that do not need regular watering or careful care. Extensive landscaping of the roof is the creation of a continuous carpet of evergreens, this option does not imply any recreation areas.

Most often, this method of landscaping is used on the roofs of gazebos, garages, outbuildings and private houses. It is convenient that the weight of a thin and light layer of soil, together with plants, averages only about 20 kg per square meter of roof, so it will not require additional strengthening of the base. Another type of extensive landscaping is ordinary tubs with houseplants, transferred in the spring to a flat roof. In this case, it is also possible to equip a recreation area here, but, of course, this option cannot be called a real garden or lawn.

Intensive.

In this case, a real garden appears on the roof with walking paths, a picnic area, gazebos, pergolas and even ponds.

Of course, planting shrubs and trees requires a solid foundation that can withstand a layer of soil up to 1.5 m thick. Most often, intensive landscaping is used in multi-storey buildings, hotels, shopping centers and other fairly large facilities.

If the owners of a private house intend to create such a full-fledged garden on their roof, then they will need the opinion of specialists who will determine whether the load-bearing walls and foundation will withstand such a solid weight. With intensive landscaping, the total load per square meter of roofing can reach 700 kg.

Norwegian green roofs are usually pitched, so there are no seating areas here - only an even layer of green grass

Safety requirements

The base of a flat roof must withstand a solid load.

A layer of ordinary soil with a thickness of only 5 cm and an area of one square meter can weigh up to 100 kg, and the soil is just one of the layers of the foundation of the future garden. The use of special light substrates and lightweight drainage systems will help reduce the load, but their choice requires a careful approach and consultation with specialists.

Landscape design experts advise planting large trees and placing massive objects in places where load-bearing structures are located to reduce the load on the roof.

Roof garden technology

If you look at the structure of the rooftop garden in a section, then most of all it will look like a multi-layer cake, the top layer of which is directly plants.

The base of the roof garden in a section looks like a cake of several layers, each of which is necessary to create an entire ecosystem with its own microclimate and green inhabitants: 1 - concrete slab; 2 - waterproofing; 3 - thermal insulation; 4 - root protective membrane; 5 - geotextile; 6 - drainage layer; 7 - geotextile; 8 - soil; 9 - plants

Consider each individual layer and roof greening technology:

The first layer of the garden or lawn on the roof will be the supporting structures of the roof itself: a concrete floor slab in the case of a flat roof and a continuous sheathing of a pitched roof. Of course, if there is slate or tile on the pitched roof, they should first be removed. If the basis of the future garden is a flat concrete slab, you will have to take care of the presence of a slope of 1.5–5 degrees towards the drain. You can create such a slight slope on a flat roof using a cement-sand screed.
The second layer is waterproofing. It should be as reliable as possible, since in the event of a leak, all the upper layers will have to be removed for repairs, and this is a very time-consuming, costly and lengthy process. As a waterproofing today, built-up rolled bitumen-polymer materials are usually used. Their lower layer is attached to the base mechanically, and the upper layer is welded, all seams are reliably soldered. The waterproofing layer along the edges of the roof should be bent to a height exceeding the thickness of the insulation.
The third layer is thermal insulation. This layer is created from cork boards, extruded polystyrene foam or polyurethane foam. Insulation plates are stacked tightly to each other, if the pressure of the upper layers is not enough, you can connect them together with special glue. It is not necessary to fasten polystyrene or polyurethane boards to the base.
The fourth layer is protection against root penetration. In some cases, the laying of this additional layer can be abandoned. For example, if it is not planned to plant trees on the roof and an ordinary lawn will grow here, then waterproofing is quite enough. Otherwise, landscape design experts advise, for reliability, to fix a root-protective membrane over the heat-insulating layer, which will prevent the root system from sprouting and damaging the base. Ideal for these purposes is an elastic polymer gasket with special cells that retain moisture, or a film with a metal coating.
The fifth, intermediate layer is geotextile. This is a roll material, the strips of which overlap each other. Remember that plant roots can easily overcome the geotextile - which is why an additional root protection layer is needed.
Sixth, drainage layer. The thickness of this layer is from 5 to 10 cm. The drainage layer is necessary to remove excess water, as well as retain moisture during a drought. The drainage layer is connected to the drainage system. Usually, perlite coke, crushed pumice, polyamide or expanded clay gravel are used as drainage - fairly light materials. You can also use loosened clay and regular gravel, but such a layer will be heavier. Often, perforated pipes are laid in the drainage layer, which improves water flow.
The seventh layer - another layer of geotextile is laid on the drainage, which will serve as a filter for small particles washed out of the soil.
The eighth layer is soil. Only now can you start creating the last layer, in which the plants will be planted. The substrate for a roof garden is usually a special light mixture of soil with the addition of sand, perlite, peat, expanded clay, clay, wood chips, slate and crushed bark. The thickness of the soil usually varies from 5 to 50 cm, the substrate is distributed over the roof depending on the needs of the plants. Ordinary soil for a roof garden is not recommended.

Thus, the technology for creating a lawn on a pitched roof usually consists of laying waterproofing, a root protection membrane, geotextiles and a layer of soil. However, along the edge of the pitched roof, you will have to additionally create a reliable restrictive board, which will prevent the soil from sliding. It is also advisable to put a special net or grate on top of the root protection layer, which are usually used to strengthen slopes.

DIY roof garden

As you can see, the creation of a roof garden is a rather complicated, lengthy process that requires certain knowledge, experience and special materials. Immediately, without preparation, starting intensive gardening of the roof with your own hands is a risky task. However, you can use one of the following, simpler and more affordable options for arranging a garden or lawn on the roof:

On a flat roof, you can simply beautifully arrange tubs, flowerpots and pots with plants. Surrounded by such a green area, a cozy corner for relaxation with furniture and barbecue facilities may appear.
Extensive landscaping is less expensive and can be created even on a conventional pitched roof of a garage or cottage.

On a flat roof, you can select a separate corner where the green zone will be located. In this area, a flat recess is constructed from a waterproof frost-resistant film that does not contain substances harmful to plants, the edges of which rise by 5 centimeters. The sides can be fixed with boards or stones.

A layer of gravel is poured inside the excavation for drainage, and a ready-made substrate is placed on top.

Everything, the flower garden is ready, it remains only to moisten the ground and plant the seeds. True, from such a “flower bed” you will have to regularly pour out excess water (for this you need to lower one of the edges of the side of the film). Of course, you can’t plant trees here, but grass and unpretentious flowers will take root quite well.

Ready-made landscaping systems from companies specializing in landscape design. Such a system is a ready-made "pie" with all the necessary layers, which will greatly facilitate the process of arranging the garden.

Similar systems are currently offered by the German companies FlorDepot and ZinCo. With these ready-made systems, which are light and easy to use, you can set up a rooftop lawn in just one day.

The cost of specialist services depends on many factors and in most cases is calculated individually for each customer.

Despite all the hardships, costs, and need for aftercare, the idea of a rooftop garden looks very appealing. And this is not surprising, because even the townspeople in several generations have this desire - to spend as much time as possible in nature and create their own piece of paradise in the city center, even if there is clearly not enough land for this. published

If you have any questions on this topic, ask them to specialists and readers of our project.

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