It should have good consistent drainage and aeration with a structure that enables it to hold water.
Green roof medium.
In general the bulk of the water storage in a green roof buildup is in the growing medium.
Green roof growing medium is composed of mineral aggregates and only a small amount of organic material.
Intensive green roofs are essentially elevated parks.
Soil tests are integral part of the process and.
The green roof manufacturers should fully understand the various needs and specifications of the green roof medium.
A good green roof medium is made up of a well developed soil blends.
It should also be light weight resistant to decomposition and compression and physically and chemically stable.
The foot or more of growing medium needed for an intensive green roof creates a load of 80 150 pounds 36 68 kilograms per square foot.
They can sustain shrubs trees walkways and benches with their complex structural support irrigation drainage and root protection layers.
Container gardens on roofs where plants are maintained in pots are not generally considered to be true green roofs although.
However the factors allowing for a lightweight roof can create a high stress environment for plant material.
Green roof systems may be modular with drainage layers filter cloth growing media and plants already prepared in movable often.
A green roof system is an extension of the existing roof which involves at a minimum high quality water proofing root repellent system drainage system filter cloth a lightweight growing medium and plants.