There are two different types of garden that you can consider if you are planting on your rooftop. The very first type is called a roof garden, and this is the much more intensive choice. Most people see this on an office block or hotel top because it requires a large effort, a great deal of soil and sometimes very large plants such as trees.
The other type of rooftop garden is more practical for an individual gardener known as an extensive green roof. This roof is a very shallow system that supports many different types of species that grow lower to the ground such as mosses, sedum, and many different varieties of grass. This type of roof can also be referred to as a living roof and can be placed on a flat or pitched surface.
The second type of rooftop garden is a great way to finish off a shed, garden room, garage, or if you want maybe even the dog house. It is also a great way to get back garden space if you have lost some of your garden to parking in the front.
Outside of the fact that they are aesthetically pleasant to look at, it is wise to plant a rooftop garden because they help to prevent damage from flash flooding. A planted roof helps to reduce the amount of run-off that is produced from rainfall because the soil and plants instead attract the water allowing it to drain at a much slower rate.
In towns and cities where there is a lack of green space a green roof also helps to balance out the environmental balance. Plus, anything green or planted will help to reduce the amount of pollution in the air making it wise decision for those who are green thinkers.
The largest concern by most people is that a rooftop garden will ruin the roofing, but if proper installation methods are followed including placing a root-resistant barrier in place and a waterproof membrane then there is no risk to the roof.
In fact, once it is installed the green roof will actually help to protect the roofing that you already have because it will not be weathered by things like UV radiation and frost. In addition, living roofs also help insulate buildings helping to keep them cooler during the summer months and warmer in the winter.
