Planting on a roof or wall?

When I first heard about planting and growing on a roof or a wall, I thought the world had gone mad (perhaps not as mad as it currently is!).

Green roofs and living walls are the future of gardening and creating new eco systems in our ever growing concrete jungle. Its a concept that has been going on for a long time. (for those interested one of the the first recorded roof gardens were the ziggurats of ancient Mesopotamia 4,000-600BC .......!)

Even back then then, space was utilised on the top of structures for growing. It is a concept that has continued and has started to grow (excuse the pun) a lot more recently as more houses and structures are built in order to cope with our ever growing society.

Whats the point? I hear you ask.

Well, having a roof garden or living wall not only improves the visual and aesthetic look of what would otherwise be a great grey mass of concrete. It helps provide a great wildlife habitat and helps to reduce the effects of pollution (traps dust, recycles carbon dioxide absorbs noise to name a few).

Lets be fair, would you rather look at a grey concrete roof or one which has an abundance of green and growing plants where you can sit and relax (especially if you have no where else to go!)

I know which I would choose (but that's a personal choice of course!)

Green roofs can come in all shapes and sizes and don't have to be on large buildings and can be placed on anything (with a bit of planning and crazy thinking). Even the tops of bus stops have been used as a growing area to help encourage wildlife and create a greener area. The different types of design and vegetation you can combine on even a small area is endless.

Living walls are the future for larger cities and are starting to pop up everywhere. You can turn a grey, drab looking wall in to visually stunning area, helping to create a calming environment and a positive aspect to the area.

From planting to design, the possibilities are endless. Using a combination of colours, sizes and textures, a mini ecosystem can be created in a place which otherwise would be barren.

So next time you look at your shed roof or your garden fence, why not think how you can create your own mini eco system?

Enjoy your garden (or roof garden) this year!