Green roofs on the ground!?

[Derby411]

Hi there

I am thinking of growing sedums and Herb species of plants in my front garden as nothing normal grows out there (the soil is imported and has dried a hard clay which never really gets wet!) and after learning about green roofs, thought i might try a green roofs plants in my front garden... has anyone else tried this???

Also does anyone know of the most benefital of these plants for birds and insection would be????

Thanks for any help!

[galanthus]

Hi, me too thinking about a living roof. I posted a thread a few months ago with a good link given by eeyore

creating a living roof

Still looking into it....

[Derby411]

Did you know they were invented due to Black Redstarts.. Hehe.
I had a CPD/talk about them today at work, and it just gave me the idea!
Thanks for the info.. oeh where you planning on putting yours?

[galanthus]

As a start, on top of our shed we keep logs in. Although if other half persuaded it's a good move we may do the same with our utility room root. On a grand designs programme we watched 2 weeks ago, someone bought a kind of mat made from recycled objects, (from germany) and planted on that. looked great when grown.

[JennyS]

Hi Derby, have you thought of of breaking up your soil and digging some gravel and humus in?
If you open it up a bit it'll increase the range of plants you'll be able to grow

[Derby411]

Hi Jenny
Yes I did think about this, and have tried it but it would take more than i can afford (money and time) really to get it sorted, i'd need tons and tons of manure to get it even moderately passable to grow something other than bulbs! Thanks for the advice, we're be doing this in the back garden!

I currently spend lots of weekends pulling up weeds (which can grown ANYWHERE...) when i have some time and they are never ending - thus the idea of a sedum lawn which would only need a yearly maintance.. AND is good for the birdies and bugs!

[galanthus]

Just realised I completely misread your post soz Just became excited when I thought someone else was doing the green roof thing

[Derby411]

lol.. don't worry, it is the same thing just on the ground.. and instead of on a shed roof i'd use the ground... then the build up!

[galanthus]

Originally Posted by Derby411

lol.. don't worry, it is the same thing just on the ground.. and instead of on a shed roof i'd use the ground... then the build up!

This looks like a very good link, it goes through green roof step by step with pics, but you could adapt this to your garden maybe ?

Green Roof information for the domestic home

[Derby411]

i have just found a list of plant names in a Bauder broucher.. you can get some wonderful colours with them!!! The flower spring until autumn some of them!

Thanks for the helpful link!