Green Sedum Roof System

1. Assess the roof type: Does the building have a pitched roof or a flat roof? This makes a big difference when it comes to installing sedum; the way it is installed and maintained is different for each type of roof.
2. Apply a drainage layer: Sandwich panels for green roof systems are root resistant, so we can proceed straight to the drainage layer – a permeable layer for draining any excess water.
3. Apply a substrate layer: The substrate layer serves as the base for the sedum; this is where the sedum will take root and look for nutrients. Moisten the substrate layer before adding the sedum.
4. Install the sedum blankets on the roof: The vegetation blankets can now be laid on top of the substrate layer.
5. Add the finishing touches: The roof should be neatly finished on the gutter side. In the case of a flat or slightly slanted roof, a gravel edge is often added to the sides. And, of course, the gutter is fitted with leaf traps.
6. Enjoy your green roof: Now the fun begins! Enjoy a different colour every month – and the fact that your roof is now a living roof. Make sure the plants are properly fertilised and weed the roof regularly. If there are long dry periods, you might also want to water it.

From FALK we have good experiences with the sedum roofs of our partner SemperGreen from Odijk. Sempergreen is the world's largest grower and supplier of green roof systems. Years of experience, wonderful projects and local nurseries guarantee the very best project results. The pre-cultivated vegetation blankets from our own nursery immediately provide full vegetation on the roof. After installation, this immediately creates a green and sustainable result.

Tip: Sedum roofs also contribute to water management in your neighbourhood. For this reason, many municipalities even offer subsidies for installing green roofs – making it an even more attractive option! Check your local municipality’s website to check the terms and conditions.

Growing sedum for insulated roofs

Growing sedum blankets requires expertise and experience, and you also need to use the right materials and methods. Growers produce long mats using a mixture of different sedum species, which can be easily rolled out on roofs. This is how your green roof garden is created. But there is still quite a long way to go before you can start to enjoy the end result.

1. The sedum grower selects the right species: There are thousands of sedum varieties, so it is important to choose the right species for the local conditions and the purpose of the green roof.
2. Preparing the substrate: The substrate should provide optimum permeability and drainage and be suitable for growing sedum.
3. Cultivating sedum: This is usually done a lot in pots or on trays, but when done on a large scale, whole fields of sedum are grown. Sedum needs regular care and attention, it needs watering regularly, fertiliser and light. Sedum also needs a weed-free environment.
4. Harvesting and packaging the sedum: During transportation and storage, it is important to protect the sedum properly.
5. Installing on the roof: The sedum blankets can then be installed and secured on the waterproof roof. Once installed, regular maintenance is required, such as checking for water permeability and fertilisation.