Paying attention to details pays dividends By Janet E. Ande and Kees Govers, B.Sc. Agr, GRPWhatever the purpose, vegetation is the vital ee plants die), all those g ‘must pay attention to the de nt Wit alls (i.e the Is are compromised, Therefore, consultants in the three crucial determinants in vegetation perform: make up this triumvirate, The harmonious combination of all thece elements will lad to a succesful living oof. The failure of any one of these will ultimately result in the failure of the entire vegetated roof. Consultants and specification writers nced to ktiow how to identity the characteristics of a well-designed vegetated roof system and how to see past marketing hype by getting down to basics Plants, growing medium, and drainage Plant science (Of primary concern to the horticulturist are the plants themselves Plants (and some algae) are unique among life on this planet in that they are able to directly capture the energy from sunlight and convert water (HO) and carbon dioxide (CO,) into carbohydrates (C,H,0,) and oxygen (O.). This process of photosynthesis breaks down, the water molecules to use the hydrogen in the new carbohydrate molecule while the oxygen is released asa by-product, Meanwhile, carbon dioxide from the air is sequestered as food and tissues for the plant. Thus, a healthy vegetated roof is able to mitigate stormwater runoff, not only by retaining moisture in the growing tion layers (if used), but also by converting much of that excess water into breathable oxygen while filtering out ‘many eain-borne pollutants before they reach the groundwater. ‘medium and water ret The green roof at St. ignatius of Loyola High Schoo! In Guelph, Ont. shows the diversity of plants that can be grown successfully in 100-mm (in, deep growing medium in Southern Ontario, The plantings contain groundeover Sedums, Hylotelephiums, Euphorbia, Sempervivum, and Alllums in several different mixes. “Youll wan! fo Falk fo Sally about where fo send your last check.” Cas a cor ae peo art eee rong uc oe eee Wee: eee? Gaeta) Tore cn January2011 33To some it seems counterintuitive installan irigation system on «a roof—why put mote water where it can leak into the building? To 1 horticulturist i e imperative there be the ability to provide water to the plants in times of sustained limited precipitation. Although many consultants recommend a subsurface drip ierigation system, some inherent difficulties ate often overlooked, Gravity dictates water does not move well in lateral manner, especially in an aggregate-based growing medium. Therefore, drip irrigation systems tend to produces striped effect, following the water Tines with areas of healthy plants lanked by are better for plant growth isa sprinkler-hased irrigation system. These of waterstress, Much are easier, and cheaper, to install and maintain (consider the need to drain the lines before winter) and do not use any more water than drip system if they correctly operated (usualy in early morning) Native versus non-native plants [As anyone with backyard gardening experience knows, some plants are easy to grow with relatively few roquitements, while others are 34 January 2011 These images are from the green roof on a public service building Jn Toronto. The green roofs fon two levels) are three years old and were installed in 100-mm (a-in.) deep pre-vegetated modules. They have never received any water other than in the form of rain These photos show the importance of appropriate plant selection for non-irigated green roots immensely picky and must be sited just right to keep them happy and. alive. The situation in which plants are grown on 2 veg particularly difficult due to shallow growing medium, ite rege, high elevations, and litle shelter from prevailing winds, There area limited number of plants that can adapt to those conditions, Atthis point the subject of native plants is often raised. The saying. Plants that evolved in a particular area (eg. Southwestern Cntatio) are genetically programmed to grove well her, while exoties tated roof is ular water are not? This is not necessarily 50; plants are native to the soil and ‘ecoxystem they evolved in, Ione changes the soil a the climate, the natural ecosystem is changed, Traditionally, the definition ofa native plant is one that was growing in an ecosystem before the incursion of Europeans into that area. However, there is nothing magical about a longitude and laitude—many other factors will affect the suitability ofa particular plant fora site For example, just because Actaea rubra (red baneberry) was ‘growing in the 15" century woodland of what is now downtown Toronto, it does not mean it is suitable to be used 500 years later and several storeys up on a condominium complex’s concrete roof deck, Green roof phints ate being asked to grow in shallow so at clevations, and in urhan envitonments—savely not a situation ‘native for any plant lif. It is better to look to plants that are hardy and adaptive to difficult growing situations, regardless of where they actully evolved, Plants suitable for an extensive vegetated roof are generally native to alvar andjor alpine-type ecosystems (i. shallow) with relatively infertile soils and intermittent rainfall, Ideally, « mixture ‘of deciduous and evergreen species should be used so the shedding, fol ¢ can return vital nutrients and organic matter to the growing ‘medium, The evergreen species will pravide continuous foliage cover to minimize wind erosion and the abil ‘of weed species to gain a foothold in exposed soil Additionally certain pants are well adapted tothe harsh conditions ofa fullsun roofop because they use the crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) system of photosynthesis. This means they are able to store CO, taken in overnight when conditions are cooler and, therefore,