As well as the sedum trays, Wallbarn plants up a wildflower mix into the M-Tray®. We have developed a new native wildflower green roof which was planted at the end of last year and will be ready for dispatch and installation this summer.
Wildflower green roofs contain a mixture of native flower species to attract native insects and birds.
A varied mix of at least six different native species has been selected. All these flowers and herbs are low growing, hardy species, chosen to be pollinators for butterflies and bees.
The ideal way to introduce wildflower seed mix
In order to get more wildflowers into the system, Wallbarn has developed wildflower green roof trays with a wildflower seed mix at the point of harvesting and packing.
This seed mix is designed to attract bees and butterflies, so will increase the biodiversity and environmental impact of the roof.
Wildflower green roofs still require maintenance
There are certain things to consider: these flowers are chiefly annuals, so will die off at the end of the growing season.
Therefore, in order to have flowers the next year, the roof will need to be reseeded. Users can harvest the seeds in this season’s crop to sow the next year, or purchase another seed mix (available from Wallbarn) the next spring.
Also, these wildflowers can grow very high, up to 80cm and will have much more fibrous structures than sedum (which is succulent) so the dead stalks and other vegetation will not rot but remain on the roof after the flowers have died off.
This makes the roof look unsightly and is also a potential fire risk, so these dead stalks should be removed every autumn. Clients should bear this additional maintenance in mind when choosing wildflower – if the roof is inaccessible this can prove a major problem. The additional costs of more maintenance should also be factored.
There is a lot of chatter about “wildflower” green roofs and throughout this post, we aim to shine a light on what separates wildflower green roofs from standard green roofs.
What Are Wildflower Green Roofs?
Wildflower or biodiverse green roofs are supposed to contain a mixture of native flower species to attract native insects and birds. However, if you were to prepare a green roof substrate of bare earth and introduce a few native flowers after a period of time the roof will become overrun with grass and very invasive weeds such as goat willow, bindweed and nettles. The result after time will be unsightly and potentially dangerous for the membrane beneath.
Staying Ahead of The Curve
To complement our wildflower green roof options, we are currently working on testing a wildflower M-Tray® mix with taller, more delicate flowers than standard sedum.
The winter is a crucial time to help address common issues such as re-seeding and transportation and the next few months will be essential in developing the most durable option possible.
Choosing The Correct Sedum
Many “wildflowers” are either annual or biennial or have such large root structures that they are unsuitable for green roofs.
What to do? Wallbarn is offering a solution by using the standard sedum M-Tray® green roofs as a basis for our green roof and adding wildflower seeds. Our sedum mix, which is based on the Jellito “Northern European and English Mix” seed mix which that company supplies, contains native sedum species and those deemed suitable for the English climate. Many of these sedums are flowering, have different leaf structures and textures, and grow and retreat throughout the year.
Sedum is not just a green carpet. It has many different varieties and if it is planted up in the right manner, can produce an extremely complicated and attractive garden.
The Correct Way To Introduce The Wildflower Seed Mix
In order to get more wildflowers into the system, Wallbarn is broadcasting the sedum trays with a wildflower seed mix at the point of harvesting and packing.
If we planted up wildflower trays on the farm, the flowers would be crushed upon packing and would be dead by the time they were delivered. Therefore, the tray units will look like regular sedum trays when they are delivered. The seeds will start to germinate immediately and will start to appear as flowers within 3 weeks of delivery and watering (we recommend that the trays are watered once installed).
This seed mix is designed to attract bees and butterflies, so will increase the amount of nature on the roof.
“Wildflower” Green Roofs Need To Be Maintained
There are certain things to consider: these flowers are chiefly annuals, so will die off at the end of the growing season.
Therefore, in order to have flowers the next year, the roof will need to be reseeded. Either people can harvest the seeds in this season’s crop to sow the next year, or purchase another seed mix (available from Wallbarn) the next spring. Also, these wildflowers can grow very high, up to 80cm and will have much more fibrous structures than sedum (which is succulent) so the dead stalks and other vegetation will turn not rot but remain on the roof after the flowers have died off.
This makes the roof look unsightly and is also a potential fire risk, so these dead stalks should be removed every autumn. Clients should bear this additional maintenance in mind when choosing wildflower – if the roof is inaccessible this can prove a major problem. The additional costs of more maintenance should also be factored.
The advances made in the design of the new M-Tray® model have created a number of key advantages including:
deeper cavities for extra root growth
optimum drainage leading to stronger plant growth
more established vegetation at point of installation
more efficient transport and packaging
exactly 4 units per m2
easier to carry trays with smooth handles
a closer connection between trays for more seamless plant growth
no sharp edges, less risk to the membrane
nothing spills out, less mess
made from recycled plastic with a recycled substrate
less packaging, less waste
UK designed and manufactured in the UK
M-Tray® With Wildflower
As well as the sedum trays, Wallbarn plants up a wildflower mix into the M-Tray®. A varied mix of at least six different native species has been selected. All these flowers and herbs are low growing, hardy species, chosen to be pollinators for butterflies and bees.
Why Modular?
The main advantages of modular over roll-out green roof systems include convenience and speed of installation, futureproofing, and the delivery of instant results.
All the elements required for a successful green roof have been measured and installed into the M-Tray® modules at the nursery.
Users can feel confident that the plants, growing medium and filtration components are suitable and compatible, and at the correct level to give strong, healthy growth over the long term.
The trays are grown for a period of at least 6 months and all will have been through at least one spring growing season; so the plants are well established, healthy and strong, and fully integrated into the substrate (unlike sedum blankets, which are not).
Mess and disruption are big issues with roll-out systems.
Moving bags of aggregate-based substrate onto rooftops is fraught with risk – the aggregate goes everywhere and as it is so granular, it can damage waterproofing membranes very easily. Sedum blankets are also supplied rolled up, so the plants get damaged during the transport and installation process.
This is not the case with the M-Tray® modules.
Enhanced Accessibility
Another key benefit is accessibility. As each module is 500 x 500mm, one M-Tray® can be carried by one operative. For areas which are very difficult to access, such as single-storey extensions, domestic projects and other completed structures, roll-out is simply not possible. M-Tray® can be hand-balled into even the most awkward areas, even carried through a window (pictured) if necessary. They are the perfect retro-fit product.
Speed is also a major factor. It has been proven that green roofs constructed using Wallbarn M-Tray® are installed much faster than in traditional roll-out methods.
It is also an instant green roof. Since the sedum is less shocked by the installation process, as soon as the trays are connected together the whole area is filled with well-established plants. They will start to grow straight away, forming a seamless layer of vegetation much faster.
Access to the roof is future-proofed. If there are problems with the deck beneath or inspection is required, one M-TRAY® or section can easily be lifted out without disruption to the whole roof.
The modular green roof panels are packaged and delivered in the most convenient manner.
By being palletised, the plants can get to the roof quickly and without the risk of damage.
The advances made in the design of the new M-Tray® model have created a number of key advantages including:
deeper cavities for extra root growth
optimum drainage leading to stronger plant growth
more established vegetation at point of installation
more efficient transport and packaging
exactly 4 units per m2
easier to carry trays with smooth handles
closer connection between trays for more seamless plant growth
no sharp edges, less risk to the membrane
nothing spills out, less mess
made from recycled plastic with recycled substrate
less packaging, less waste
UK designed and manufactured in UK
M-Tray® With Wildflower
As well as the sedum trays, Wallbarn plants up a wildflower mix into the M-Tray®. A varied mix of at least six different native species has been selected. All these flowers and herbs are low growing, hardy species, chosen to be pollinators for butterflies and bees.
Why Modular?
The main advantages of modular over roll-out green roof systems include convenience and speed of installation, futureproofing, and the delivery of instant results.
All the elements required for a successful green roof have been measured and installed into the M-Tray® modules at the nursery.
Users can feel confident that the plants, growing medium and filtration components are suitable and compatible, and at the correct level to give strong, healthy growth over the long term.
The trays are grown for a period of at least 6 months and all will have been through at least one spring growing season; so the plants are well established, healthy and strong, and fully integrated into the substrate (unlike sedum blankets, which are not).
Mess and disruption are big issues with roll-out systems.
Moving bags of aggregate-based substrate onto rooftops is fraught with risk – the aggregate goes everywhere and as it is so granular, it can damage waterproofing membranes very easily. Sedum blankets are also supplied rolled up, so the plants get damaged during the transport and installation process.
This is not the case with the M-Tray® modules.
Enhanced Accessibility
Another key benefit is accessibility. As each module is 500 x 500mm, one M-Tray® can be carried by one operative. For areas which are very difficult to access, such as single-storey extensions, domestic projects and other completed structures, roll-out is simply not possible. M-Tray® can be hand-balled into even the most awkward areas, even carried through a window (pictured) if necessary. They are the perfect retro-fit product.
Speed is also a major factor. It has been proven that green roofs constructed using Wallbarn M-Tray® are installed much faster than in traditional roll-out methods.
It is also an instant green roof. Since the sedum is less shocked by the installation process, as soon as the trays are connected together the whole area is filled with well-established plants. They will start to grow straight away, forming a seamless layer of vegetation much faster.
Access to the roof is future-proofed. If there are problems with the deck beneath or inspection is required, one M-TRAY® or section can easily be lifted out without disruption to the whole roof.
The modular green roof panels are packaged and delivered in the most convenient manner.
By being palletised, the plants can get to the roof quickly and without the risk of damage.
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