Why your rooftop should be green.
A roof garden is a garden on the roof of a building. Besides the decorative benefit, roof plantings may provide food, temperature control, hydrological benefits, architectural enhancement, habitats or corridors for wildlife, recreational opportunities, and in large scale it may even have ecological benefits. Rooftop gardens are beneficial in reducing rainfall runoff impacts because they retain the water that falls on them and returns it into the air through transpiration and evaporation. Just as rooftop gardens clean the air they also clean the water by removing nitrogen pollution from stormwater runoff.
Green buildings as a trend nowadays have made many homeowners and commercial property owners are now seriously contemplating the installation of green roofs. With global warming continually looming over our planet and making it warmer, we consume more electricity and rely more heavily on different appliances for our comfort. That's why all of us need to take steps towards improving our natural environment-- thus, the concept and development of a green roof.
What are Green Roofs?
Green roofs got the name because they are a sustainable option that is good for the environment. If a roof is eco-friendly, it can be called green. Green roofs usually have vegetation and plants, or for some, even a garden. Green cover for roofs include herbs, grass, drought-resistant plants, flowers, and even vegetables. However, it doesn't have to be a traditional garden or having sprawling or multiple types of herbs, plants, fruit-bearing trees, or fruits. It could just have grass or perennials, some bushes, or shrubs. Green roofs don't only look great-- they are also energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly, and they are also suitable for utilizing an often neglected area. Because the roof has plants and vegetation, green roofs bring several excellent benefits to every building.
An essential component of any building is by having sustainable drainage as a way to counter flooding in case of heavy rainfall. In a traditional sense, a network of pipes connected to the sewage system does the job. However, because of the increasing number in urban development, more water runs off into metropolitan areas, increasing the risk of flooding. Countering this threat means considering green roofs as a terrific option. Plants can store water and substrate before being released naturally back into the environment.
Since the roof is the building's protector from outside elements, it's continuously under attack from the elements throughout the year. Hence, a roof will need to deal sufficiently with wind and rain and ultraviolet light and fluctuating temperatures. For this reason, both homeowners and businesses resort to considering an alternative option for the roof. Green roofs ideally offer this alternative and have even proved to double or triple the life expectancy of your rooftop. The barrier made by the greenery helps protect the waterproof membrane underneath and ensures that your roof lifespan lasts well for decades.
How to Start a Rooftop Garden in 7 Steps
Step 1 Check your building codes. ...
Step 2 Select your plants. ...
Step 3 Choose or build containers. ...
Step 4 Set up wind blocks. ...
Step 5 Prepare the soil. ...
Step 6 Plant your selections. ...
Step 7 Water the plants as necessary.
Use plastic, fiberglass, or foam planting containers and avoid using pavers. Use lightweight potting soil rather than garden dirt. Use Styrofoam peanuts for drainage rather than rocks or pottery shards. Fourth, keep in mind that your rooftop garden will be considerably windier than a normal garden. The most common problems include access to water, drainage complications, carrying items to the roof, no privacy, no storage, and structural issues on the rooftop. You'll want to know how to handle each of these problems. Horticultural perlite and peat moss mixtures are used by professional growers for many reasons. They form a lightweight planting mix for rooftop gardens and other areas where normal soil use presents a weight problem. a growing mix.
If you are building raised beds on a rooftop, planter bottoms are recommended to for soil drainage. Consult with a professional before setting up large gardens on rooftops to make sure the total weight of the beds, including soil and water, does not exceed weight limitations. One key contributing factor to global warming is the release of carbon dioxide. With the help of green roofs, there's less need for air conditioning while also ensuring that less heat is required for the winter season, thus reducing aircon reliance and generation of heat that creates CO2.
When a green roof has a substantial size or floor area, it can grow many kinds of flowers, vegetables, and herbs. You can also produce many herbs of medicinal value on your green roof. Moreover, you can either use these herbs or sell them. Even fruits and vegetables can be grown organic on your green roof. With the produce that you can get from your green roof, you will be able to live an exceptional lifestyle and save money on your grocery shopping.
If you have a green roof and want to ensure it remains a thriving atmosphere, you will need to do some work. You should treat your green roof as a garden, and as such, it will require regular watering, feeding, and weeding. If you love working on gardens, you can undertake this task yourself or even employ someone to take care of the space. Whatever you choose, it's great to keep on top of your brilliant green area.
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