Adding a green roof to garden buildings such as sheds and storage areas reclaims the space they take up, as well as improving air quality and encouraging wildlife into the garden. Joe Swift shows how to green up your shed.
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Build a green roof
Assess your roof
Before sketching out your design, assess the roof you're planning to use - it's important that the building is sturdy enough to hold the structure you build. If you have a sloping roof it's best to add vertical supports at the lower corners by cementing posts into the ground. If in doubt about its load bearing potential, get a professional to advise you on this matter.
What to do
Time needed
A day
You will need (2m x 1m (6ft 6 in x 3ft 3in) structure)
- 3 x 2m (6ft 6in) lengths of 20 x 2.5cm (8 x 1") timber
- 2 x 1m (3ft 3in) lengths of 20 x 2.5cm (8 x 1") timber
- 4 x 50cm (1ft 6in) lengths of 20 x 2.5cm (8 x 1") timber
- 10 x L-brackets
- Screws to attach the L-brackets
- Butyl lining
- 2m x 1m (6ft 6in x 3ft 3in) plywood board
- Electric screwdriver
- Tape measure
Build the frame
- Build the outer frame first then add a central strut for strength.
- Using the L-brackets, join together the outer sides of the green roof structure.
- Measure carefully and use the L-brackets to attach a 2m (6ft 6in) length of wood as a central support through the middle of the framework.
- Measure carefully again and use the L-brackets to attach the remaining lengths of wood widthways across the frame, creating a grid with six sections.
- Line the roof of your shed with a piece of plywood wrapped in waterproof butyl lining. This will protect the roof of the shed from any potential water damage.
- Lift the wooden frame into place.
- If your shed has a sloping roof, nail the frame to two strong vertical posts which have been cemented into the ground on the lower side of the shed roof.
Plant up
- Fill the frame with potting compost mixed with a good amount of perlite. This will give good drainage and stop the structure from becoming too heavy.
- There's a huge range of plants you can choose from that will grow on your green roof, but try to choose ones which will not grow too tall so that they will survive any potential wind or storm damage. Sedum matting is also a popular low-maintenance choice. A living carpet of sedum plants are grown on special matting which is simple to install. Remember to choose some evergreen species if you want year-round foliage on your roof.
Plants to try
In his green roof garden, Joe used some of the following plants:
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