Gone are the times when plants have to follow the rules and live in the garden. The trends of today have us growing beautiful gardens everywhere, as open space is consumed and condensed and the urban environment grows. Now the push is to utilize and introduce plant material and garden space to new environments. The technology of Green Roof installation has been around since the days of Norwegian grass roofed huts, and as is often the case, “Green Technology” takes a chapter from the past to create solutions for the future.
Green Roofs are investments in the environment and open space; studies are beginning to prove that they may also provide critical return on investment. These roof systems provide insulation which reduces heating and cooling needs. Green Roofs create a permeable Surface which slows storm water runoff and can reduce the pollutants we are returning to our waterways. Green roofs create habitat for birds and insects as well as establish an aesthetic and open space value in urban environments where space is limited.
Similarly, Living Walls have recently become more popular and visible in everyday life. These vertical gardens established along walls in interior or exterior spaces are pushing what is possible in the built world. Leaps have been made to establish this as a viable technology which can improve air quality indoors and offer intrigue and spectacle to outdoor space. As the technology matures many products are hitting the market and will need to be tested to see what works and what doesn’t. Such systems as Little Prince’s “Bright Green Living Wall” and the many other pouch and planter systems which are hitting the market aim to create ease of installation and adaptability of design. When considering plants for a Living Walls you want highly adaptable plants with low watering needs and shallow root zones. Such plants commonly found in walls include Bromeliads, Ferns, Sedums, and shallow rooted Vegetables such as Chard.
The jury is still out on these new technologies. Designers, contractors, and maintenance teams alike are learning and bettering their expertise. I can honestly say I can’t wait to be a part of developing improving and expanding the way plant material is used in the built environment.
~ Matt Holt, BLA
Landscape Designer and Consultant