Maintaining Your Green Roof
A large green roof requires almost no maintenance. However, your roof garden will always require some upkeep. This includes removing wind-borne weeds and applying fertilizer several times per year. Walking on the plants while performing this maintenance will not harm them. They are powerful enough to compensate for this. The maintenance of a Sedum roof and a biodiverse roof is described below.
Annual maintenance Sedum roof
- Roof Inspection
Inspect the Sedum roof for weeds and seeds (carried by the wind) at least twice a year and manually remove any unwanted vegetation. This is best done in the spring and autumn. We do not recommend using chemical pesticides to promote biodiversity. In addition, ensure that the drainage system is still operational. Remove any leaves that have been blown into the gutters and drains.The number of inspections will be determined by the amount of greenery around your roof.
- Fertilization
A large green roof needs to be fertilized twice a year. The best time to fertilize your Sedum roof is between late April and early September. Fertilization ensures an even supply of nutrients, resulting in healthy, robust planting.
Sempergreen’s product line includes both mineral and organic fertilizers. For more information on our maintenance fertilizers, please see the links below.
- Irrigation
A well-rooted Sedum roof does not require additional water. Watering the green roof is only necessary in extremely dry conditions. An irrigation system is recommended depending on the climate zone in which your green roof is located.
Annual maintenance biodiverse roof
A different guideline is available for the maintenance of a biodiverse roof, on which Sedum mats in combination with herbs, grasses and/or flowers have been applied. Download the maintenance advice for biodiverse roofs below.