Adding a green roof to garden buildings such as sheds and storage areas reclaims the space they take up, as well as improving air quality and encouraging wildlife into the garden. Joe Swift shows how to green up your shed.
What to do
Assess the roof you are planning to use - it is important that the building is sturdy enough to hold the structure you build. If you have a sloping roof it is best to add vertical supports at the lower corners by cementing posts into the ground.
Sketch your design before buying the necessary lengths of timber.
Build the outer frame first then add a central strut for strength. Add widthway supports using L brackets to hold them in place. This will create a grid of rectangular sections into which you can plant.
Cover the shed roof with a protective waterproof liner wrapped around a sheet of plywood.
Secure the frame to the shed roof and supports.
Fill the frame with compost. Add perlite to the mix to lighten the load and increase drainage. Then you are ready to plant up. Select low-growing plants; succulents are ideal as they do not have deep root systems. Remember to choose some evergreen species if you want year-round foliage on your roof.
Time needed
A day
You will need
3 x 2m (6ft 6in) lengths of 20 x 2.5cm (8 x 1") timber
2 x 1m (3ft 3in) lengths of 20 x 2.5cm (8 x 1") timber
4 x 50cm (1ft 6in) lengths of 20 x 2.5cm (8 x 1") timber
10 x L-brackets
Screws to attach the L-brackets
Butyl lining
2m x 1m (6ft 6in x 3ft 3in) plywood board
Electric screwdriver
Tape measure
Let Joe guide you through the process with a step-by-step video guide
