Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020 - 12

BEST PRACTICES

Photo courtesy American Hydrotech

SPRING FOR SOME
MAINTENANCE!
BY ANGIE DURHMAN

No great surprise, our favorite season is here! Just as the tree canopies
start budding, green roof maintenance starts when temperatures are
consistently in the forties (40°F) as Sedum and other ephemerals are
breaking dormancy.

here are several things to keep in mind about ramping up
service. It is important to get the contracts signed ahead of
your first anticipated visit. If contracted on a new installation,
the site should be inspected in advance of the crew visit. I like
to manage my clients' expectations by letting them know how many
crew members will be working on the green roofs, and also what
tools they will bring.
A "weed walk" consists of walking a grid with a visual inspection in a two foot radius. Walking in a straight line, or setting
up a grid line, is essential so nothing is missed. At this time, the
inspector should be mapping any troubled areas - erosion, lack
of desired plants, weeds, etc. A seasoned inspector can review the
notes to get a better sense of weed population over time, thus
offering the ability to service that roof at key times during the
growing season.
Perennial forbs on green roofs should be pruned back to allow
for new growth. Last year's sedum flower stalks could be cut
back, but it is usually not worth the time or budget to do so. We
also keep the hardscapes clear of trash and any wandering plants
that found their way into the breaks. If the timing is right, it's
fun to look for the early spring bloomers such as Geum, Antennaria or Armeria.
Aside from the ecological work, spring is also a good time to
set up and test irrigation (if any), perform growing media analysis,
check on monitoring equipment, and make sure the drains are
LIVING ARCHITECTURE MONITOR / SPRING 2020 / 12

clear of debris. Any issues
should be reported to the building staff.
As you might expect, many
roofs are simply not maintained
by skilled contractors. A lack of
accountability is all too common in our industry. I think it
is critical to work through the
proper channels to find the right
stakeholder who can understand
that ongoing maintenance and
inspections are as important
as servicing HVAC. The cost
of restoring failed green roofs
is often higher than simply
investing in regular service
after installation. With the
designs my firm (AD Greenroof
LLC) completes, we include
stewardship for the first two-five
years. For remote sites, we
use Greenformation®, which
provides maintenance oversight
to the local facility manager

who might not know the crucial
weed cycles. With a skilled crew
and accurate documentation,
there is a better chance you'll
get your maintenance contract
extended.
As always, follow the proper
OSHA regulations and be safe
on the roof!
Angie Durhman, GRP, runs AD
Greenroof LLC and has been
working in the green roof industry
for 18 years. She is based in
Minneapolis, MN.
Angie@adgreenroof.com
The Living Architecture Performance Tool Certification protocol
requires a five year maintenance
plan. See www.greeninfrastructurefoundation.org
Visit LivingArchitectureAcademy.
com for Advanced Maintenance
Course
LIVINGARCHITECTUREMONITOR.COM

http://www.greeninfrastructurefoundation.org http://www.LIVINGARCHITECTUREMONITOR.COM

Green Roofs - Living Architecture Monitor - Spring 2020

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