Tuesday 7 June 2011

Up on the Roof

Sempervivum Grandiflorum
You know how it is, when you buy one thing,  you fall in love with it and then before you know where you are you've got them here there and everywhere. Well that's how it is with me! I bought this little plant last year from the garden centre. It wasn't too long before it was growing babies like they were going out of fashion. I potted them all up in polystyrene coffee cups - all you need is well drained compost, a bit of grit in it and a hole at the bottom of the cup to let the water get away. I bought a few more - one of each different varieties as I came across them - same thing and now I've got trays of them. Some months ago one of the local farmers put a few acres of his land on the market. We were intrigued every time we passed by to see all these rows of plastic sheeting across it and wondered what on earth was going on. The mystery was solved when our close neighbour, taking her dog for a walk, called by one evening. Apparently the people that had bought the land were  growing thousands of these sedums to provide an environmentally friendly green roof. And not only that, they were actually making a good living at it. It seems that the sedums are grown on root resistant matting. A layer of grit and the mat is rolled across the rafters providing an attractive practically maintenance free waterproof cover.   Not that these folks ever need worry about stiff competition, but I'd really like to have a try to make my own mini green roof even if it's only on the bird house.
Some of my cuttings


Green Roof at the Derwen Garden Centre

Watch this space!

16 comments:

  1. Look at this new blog! I like it and will get you on my blog roll. I love sedums and have a ghost plant {or is it a succulent?} from about 25 years ago that I have spread around to various pots. The deer like it too and almost ate all of the mother plant. That roof is amazing. I am so glad you let me know where you were! hugs♥O

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  2. What a fab idea. Here at Glastonbury abbey, they are growing them on top of the ruins to prevent any more erosion.

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  3. Hi Molly....thanks for letting me know where you are now. Love the new header. The little plants, we call them hens and chicks over here.

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  4. I'm so glad you told me where to find you. I've been trying to get your old blog and it said it was by invitation only - I was quite hurt that I wasn't invited! :0)
    I love sempervivums and used to have loads of different ones but until I read your post I didn't realise that I've only got a few left. I'll have to get some more.

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  5. Hi Molly

    Check out this blog if you haven't already - right up your street if you want green roofs...

    http://www.thegardenroofcoop.com/

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  6. Hi Molly,

    How cool is that! The inventiveness of people is amazing. This house of mine is going to need a new roof in a about 5 years, but I live in a development with "rules". Don't think this will fly by the council. They already think I'm a little daft with all my gardens and flowers; they will just conclude that I have gone over the edge.

    Love your new heading and blog title!

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  7. In Sweden they've always had roofs covered in grass, but sedums would be much more fun.

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  8. Molly - here in new Zealand we have our letter boxes at the gate and I have seen some made with earth roofs planted with sedums. Great post.

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  9. Molly, hellloo, got here ;-)
    That roof is amazing. I think my eldest has one of those growing on her windowsill in a pot.

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  10. Hi Molly - what a gorgeous pic of that sedum - what vibrant colours - when we were at Malvern Show - we were talking to an exibitor who was selling sedums on the black matting - because B has been collecting sedums to grow on his shed at the allotment and he wanted to know what depth of soil he could get away with - interesting stuff x

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  11. love, love, sedums! like your new blog, don't change too much though Molly! love your header picture!

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  12. I love having your comments, thanks so much.
    Chris - have checked the site - really good!

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  13. Thanks for stopping by my site. Watch out-green roofs are definitely addicting! We seem to be adding them to everything!

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  14. Rebecca - your site is lovely - I love sedums and those little living roofs on your bird houses are awesome. I can well see why your business is taking off - all the best!

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  15. I love these little plants. Here we call them hens and chicks. So glad you commented and left me your new blog address.

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  16. Chania - so glad you've found my new site. All the best with your house move x

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