Lightweight Plants For Flat Roofs In Dry Colorado Climates

A growth substrate of laterlite agri expanded clay mixed with other components peat compost etc offers many advantages.

Lightweight plants for flat roofs in dry colorado climates.

Hot dry climate you will need to be careful of the plants you select but overall many forms of cold hardy carnivorous plants will grow well for you. Professionals install a waterproof membrane over the roof surface so that water does not affect the structure of your house. A range of annual and biennial plants can be used successfully on green roofs and tend to fall into two distinct groups. Although it s not a native colorado plant it prefers a dry climate so it s good for xeriscaping.

Heat gets absorbed in dark materials used in the exterior of houses. If you have a shady terrace facing north look for varieties of ferns and other shade loving plants like english ivy impatiens and balsams. Most modern roofing materials and codes require a positive slope that will dry out within 72 hours thus even a flat roof needs some slope nowadays. Russian sage prefers well drained soil and a lot of sunshine.

Try dry habitat perennials and ornamental grasses such as rudbeckia achillea potentilla armeria dianthus helictotrichon sempervirens stipa tenuissima and even bulbs such as muscari or small allium species such as allium flavum and a. For a green roof to function correctly selecting the correct substrate is fundamentally important for minimising the load on the structure of the building and for ensuring the long term health of the plants. Certain grasses sage and plants of the composite family like asters daisies zinnia black eyed susan or chamomile and marigolds are possible. These will include flytraps many forms of the sarracenia pitcher plant and sundews from the southern regions of the united states.

Carex nigra is technically considered a sedge and is often used on living roofs because its roots require less soil than most other grasses or grass like plants. Installation of plants on the top of roofs is an effective solution to overcome this problem. It is hardy in zones 4 8 and reaches just 10 inches tall. You won t need to water established russian sage too much as it likes dry soil but water moderately when plants are young or transplanted.

Plants also improve air quality by releasing oxygen. It improves the chemical and physical characteristics of the. Ornamental grasses hardy with few maintenance needs and year round structure to boot are a good fit for rooftop gardens and blue fescue festuca glauca can be used in containers in a border or as an edging plant.