Contents Notes |
1. Green roof fundamentals : Green roof benefits ; Green roof challenges -- 2. Green roof design and construction : Determine and plan for the green roof's primary purpose ; Load-bearing considerations ; Components of the green roof -- 3. Vegetation and plant selection : Plant types for green roofs ; Groundcovers versus accent plants ; Growth forms and patterns ; Shallow and fibrous-rooted plants ; Native plants on green roofs ; Plant specification ; Plant establishment ; Installation methods ; Maintenance: weeding, watering, and fertilizing ; Plant growth rate ; Preparing extensive green roofs for planting ; Planting times -- 4. Plant guide -- Directory of plants by color and type -- Seed and plant nurseries. "In just a few years, green roofs have gone from a horticultural curiosity to a booming growth industry - primarily because the environmental benefits of extensively planted roofs are now beyond dispute, whether for industrial or governmental complexes or private homes, in urban or suburban settings. Yet until now there has been no reliable reference devoted exclusively to suitable drought-tolerant plants. Green Roof Plants fills that void, with photographs and cultural information for more than 200 species and cultivars, including valuable data on moisture needs, heat tolerance, hardiness, bloom color, foliage characteristics, and height." "Although many of these plants might be expected to tolerate rooftop conditions, such as the low-growing sedums, others will come as a pleasant surprise, such as dwarf alliums and campanulas. Drawing on their years of experience in the field of green roofs, the authors offer suggestions about planting for maximum impact from a distance as well as for species best suited to close-up viewing, along with helpful lists organized by bloom and foliage color and plant type." "Concise, accurate and easy to use, this handbook is an indispensable practical reference guide, not just for architects, landscape designers, engineers, and environmentalists, but also for environmentally conscious home gardeners."--Jacket. |