Ecobuild, THE place to learn about green roof maintenance

The Ecobuild show starts tomorrow, tuesday 20th March 2012 and continues until thursday 22nd March 2012.  Three days, over 1,500 exhibitors and goodness knows how many visitors.

Enviromat will be there, with our tiny (but expensive) stand in the South Hall at Excel in London, offering reams of free advice on how to get the best from an existing green roof.

It’s a shame that the research that Herriott Watt University is carrying out into the effect that maintenance has on the performance of a green roof is still in it’s very early stages but as you’ll discover, when you come on to our stand (S1702), common sense tells us that if the plant layer is allowed to perish, then the benefits it offers will be lost.  You’ll also be able to pick Angela’s brains on how to refurbish a neglected green roof, and what sort of costs could be involved….surprisingly low.

Into wild flowers and biodiversity?  We have something for you….Meadowmat is just like a wild flower meadow on a roll, install and establish it like turf, manage it like a meadow.  It’s easy, hassle-free and very effective.

I’ve only ever been to Ecobuild as a visitor, so it will be great to go there as an exhibitor and actually speak to architects, developers and facilities managers to get feedback on what they need from a green roof maintenance service.  My feet on the other hand are dreading having to leave the wellies in Norfolk and be crammed into city shoes for three days.  Oh well, in true GirlGuide fashion, the blister plasters are packed, the Nurofen is on hand and I’ve got a map of all the seating areas………wish me luck!

Less than 1 week to Ecobuild

I can barely believe that the Ecobuild show in London is less than one week away.  It seems like eons ago that I was persuading the Directors that this is THE SHOW for telling everyone who’s anyone just how important Green Roof Maintenance really is.

sample of a healthy green roof in summer time

We have a small stand compared to many of the exhibitors in the green roof section and so Kevin, Mark and myself will be working extra hard to attract visitors’ attention. There will be live samples to show the differences between well maintained roof vegetation and a neglected roof.  We also have some amazing artwork with a really complicated diagram of how a green roof works and what benefits are lost when it isn’t maintained properly.

All I need now are some comfy shoes and I’ll be all set to meet, greet and answer questions.

 

Mark Pawsey, Enviromat Green Roof Supervisor

Oh yes, if you’re heading for Ecobuild on the thursday, you’ll be able to meet my new colleague.  Green Roof Supervisor Mark Pawsey; a trained horticulturist with proven practical skills.  He’s the fella who’ll be carrying out roof assessments and applying treatments for our Enviromat Green Roof Maintenance Service.  Please come along to say “hello” and make him feel welcome.

Moss on roofs

This wonderful spring-like weather gives the ideal opportunity to get up on to green roofs and check see if they’re in good condition.

robust coverage of healthy green roof plants

A basic green roof check list includes making sure that drains are working properly, that fall restraints, edgings and walkways are securely fixed and that there is a good coverage of robust, healthy plants, ideally ones that should be there and not weeds or moss.

It’s not unusual to see moss on extensive green roofs, especially if the weather during the previous twelve months was challenging to plants, or, if the maintenance regime hasn’t quite met the needs of the plants.  Moss is an opportunist, if there are bare patches in the vegetative layer, you can bet your bottom dollar that moss will fill the gaps. Excessive moss though, is not a good thing.

Why is moss undesirable on a green roof?

On this green roof, the moss is in better shape than the sedums. Time for some maintenance!

A green roof needs green plants for it to provide the maximum benefits to the building below. Moss is a plant, but it may not give the same amount of ecological interest, wildlife habitat, ability to cool the building or substrate stabilisation that is created by sedums, herbs or wild flower plantings.  In general, moss is a sign that your green roof may not be working properly….if you have moss, the original plants have probably died….and they’re most likely to have died for one of four main reasons;  poor drainage, shade, mechanical damage, or lack of nutrients.

Controlling moss on a green roof

First address any issues with water….are the drainage outlets blocked? If not, could there be a problem with the installation – an expert will be able to judge if water management needs improving.

If the moss is growing in a shady area, find out how deep the growing medium is and investigate what plants could be established there.  Sedums hate shade but you may find that there are other shallow rooted plants that will thrive in low-light conditions.

Could the plants have been damaged by being walked on? by wind scour? or by birds pulling out plug plants.  Establish what has happened, take steps to ensure it won’t happen again and replace the plants by whatever means is practical and cost effective (choices include seeding, plug plants or sedum cuttings)

spreading plant food on a green roof needs the right equipment to ensure the correct rate of fertiliser is applied

Finally, feed the plants.  A green roof is essentially a giant planter.  The nutrient levels need to be topped up from time to time because green roof ecosystems are not quite the same as on the ground and besides….have you ever tried to garden without using fertiliser of any sort? believe me, plants do much better with a little bit of the right feed (not too much, we’re not breeding triffids here) than they do when left to fend entirely for themselves.

Confused?  Don’t be.  Enviromat can assess your roof, offer advise and carry out all of these jobs for you. An assessment is free (for roofs throughout mainland UK) and you might be surprised at how little it costs for a simple maintenance visit.  Our assessors are horticulturists, not salesmen, they want what’s best for the plants, for the environment and for your budgets in other words, we won’t rip you off.

Contact angelal@qlawns.co.uk to arrange your free green roof assessment

How often are green roofs inspected?

Recenly there have been some good discussions on LinkedIn about the merits of green roof maintenance and whether or not facilities managers are aware of how much better their living roof could perform if it were professionally maintained….

What is your experience/opinion?  Please take a second to complete this poll and add your comments…I’m keen to find out more about how green roof maintenance is percieved.

PS, if you don’t want to post on here, please e-mail me direct at angelal@qlawns.co.uk, or, even better, come and find me (Angela) on stand S1702 at the Ecobuild show later this month

A stitch in time saves nine; 9 compelling reasons to look after your green roof

1. Regular check-ups can spot problems with the visible roof structure before they get expensive

   

   Green Roof Maintenance Vehicle

2. Each layer of a green roof interacts with the other constituents to form a dynamic system. A seemingly small problem in one area could be detrimental to the whole roof if it is not addressed quickly enough.
3. It’s cheaper to spend a little every year to keep the green roof build up in good order than it is to replace the whole thing when it fails
4. A well maintained, healthy green roof will reduce the buildings’ energy usage, saving money and reducing carbon emissions
5. A neglected green roof is unattractive and gives a bad impression
6. A vibrant and well functioning green roof soon becomes a mini wildlife sanctuary.
   

   Healthy green roof plants

   Our experts can give you tips  on  developing  your green roof to increase biodiversity.

7. A well functioning green roof could improve productivity by reducing sick building syndrome
8. Unwanted plants such as tree seedlings establishing themselves in the growing medium could damage the structure of the building if they are not removed as part of a regular green roof maintenance regime
9. A healthy, attractive, well functioning green roof can increase property values

For hints and tips on getting the very best from your green roof, please visit www.maintenanceforgreenroofs.com, email angelal@qlawns.co.uk or call us on 01842 828266

Please check your green roof for wind damage

After the gale force winds the UK experienced earlier this week, there may well be some damage on green roofs – particularly if they’re recently installed or if they’re in poor repair.
As soon as it’s safe to do so, it will be prudent to make a quick check to make sure that drainage outlets are clear, fall restraints are in good condition, there’s no debris blocking light from the plants and sedum mats are still in place.
If you have any concerns at all, please don’t hesitate to contact Enviromat for some free advice.
Call Mark Southwell on 07787 288736 or email photographs of your ailing green roof to marks@enviromat.co.uk

Green Roof Maintenance at the Carbon Conference

 

severely neglected green roof

Last week, 29th November 2011, Mark and Colin set off really early in the morning (5.30!) to take their places at the Carbon Reduction Conference organised by Gov Today and held at the Brewery in London.

Apart from the £42 pound charge to park the van for the day, the boys had a very successful day and came back to the office on wednesday all fired up and enthusiastic.

Turns out, that it’s just as we suspected…. the vast majority of people and organisations with green roofs don’t realise that they need to maintain them, consequently the vegetative part of the roof deteriorates and many of the benefits of green roofing (biodiversity, cooling through evapotranspiration, aesthetics and possibly rainwater management) are all compromised.

Most of the money spent on installing the green roof has been wasted….it’s like buying a pedigree puppy and not realising it needs to be fed!

In the next couple of weeks, I’ll be sharing some case studies and blogging photo’s of what a green roof should look like at this time of year.  In the meantime, here are some common signs of neglect and how to avoid them..

1. Lack of vegetation.  If you can see the growing medium through the plants, the roof may not be working as well as it could.  Plant loss is often due to an inadequate feeding regime…make sure the roof is fed every spring
2. Unwanted vegetation.  If you have grass or moss and it wasn’t in the original planting plan, there could be a problem with drainage.  Keep drainage outlets clear and be wary of overwatering
3. Visible debris. Fallen leaves, rubbish etc can block drains and will cut off the supply of sunlight to the plants resulting in their demise…you’ll never stop this happening, just be aware and have a regular tidy-up
4. Loss of substrate.  If you can see right through to the waterproofing, your green roof really has been neglected!  If the vegetative layer is kept vibrant and healthy the root system will stop substrate from washing away.

Remember, if you have any concerns about a green roof, all you need do is e-mail pictures to marks@enviromat.co.uk.  More often than not he can diagnose the problem at the drop of the hat and there’s no charge for looking.