Green Roof maintenance: fertilizer, irrigation, weeding and periodic inspection

On the roof or on the ground, plants need maintenance, however Green Roofs are not hard to maintain - if you know how.

It is important to know what materials you have and know how the materials work together when putting a maintenance plan together.

When thinking about maintenance, don't forget about fertilizer. But you should limit the use, type and quantity of fertilizer you use.

A green roof cannot handle a standard NPK (Nitrogen, Phosphorous, and Potash (Potassium) fertilizer, understanding what the N, the P, and the K do for plants is important, as for instance Nitrogen, the first number on the fertilizer label, will make the plants grow well. However, when using a high number Nitrogen like a 20-20-20 fertilizer, it might lead to ammonia poisoning. Too high a Potassium (P) concentration might stretch the plants, making them weak.

All in all, it is important to understand what fertilizers do, how they work, and what each of the plant types require. The last thing we want is having fertilizers leach into the environment.

We can advise you on all the maintenance aspects, from weeding to checking the functionality of the drains, to understanding what fertilizers to use for your plants.