Skip to main content
SLU publication database (SLUpub)

Conference paper2008

Development of extensive vegetated sedum roofs: maintenance, moss and flowering

Emilsson, Tobias

Abstract

Green roofs are becoming a mature technology that are installed as any other building material, but the knowledge about maintenance requirements and development of the vegetation is generally low. There is currently a large number of ageing green roofs in Sweden but there is no clear information about how these systems have developed or how they should be maintained. The objective of this paper was to investigate extensive green roofs of varying age in Malmö and draw general conclusions about maintenance requirements and key factors for successful green roofs. Close to 100 vegetated roofs were investigated in the Malmö area, looking on general performance of the vegetation and of the technical installation. The vegetation was recorded with digital images. The appearance of the vegetation was investigated on-site. Most of the investigated roofs performed satisfactory. The main problem with the quality of the vegetation was 1) design problems 2) improper surroundings 3) degradation of succulent vegetation and 4) vandalism. The main design problems in Malmö resulted from installing green roofs on buildings with to large slope. It was also clear that green roofs are often installed without consideration to the surrounding environment, and several roofs were degraded due to shadowing from trees

Keywords

green roof design; plant development; maintenance

Published in


Publisher: CIRIA

Conference

World Green Roof Congress