Living Architecture Monitor - Green Roofs for Healthy Cities

THEGROWINGMEDIA&PLANTISSUE
LEFTFIGURE//WINTERSHADINGEffect of full, winter shading on survival of Sedum hybridum immergrunchen (left picture — no survival) and S. sexangulare
(right picture — 100 per cent survival). FIGURE//HEAT&RELEASEEffect of fertilizer injury under low rainfall conditions on Sedum floriferum ‘Weihenstephaner
Gold’ (left picture — foliage burning) and S. sichotense (right picture) FIGURE//BIODIVERSITYWORKSEvaluation of mixed species plugs in
green roof applications — exceptional growth and roof coverage after one growing season. FIGURE//SATURATEDGREENROOFEffect of growth media
water-holding capacity on performance of Sedum hybridum immergrunchen. On the left, 80 per cent spun-glass aggregate and 20 per cent composted pine bark.
On the right, results with 80 per cent Arkalyte and 20 per cent composted pine bark. FIGURE//-BESTEvaluation of the performance of various commercially
and specially blended growth media: lava, Arkalyte, bottom ash and Haydite, respectively.
(32 vs. 30 per cent, respectively), but is significantly greater than
Hadite, another heat-expanded aggregate (23 per cent) and bottom
ash (20 per cent) recycled from a coal-power facility.
G.R.E.E.N.’s experimental results are designed to aid those wishing
to implement green roof systems by developing a “prescription” for
each green roof application. It is our goal that a series of questions
about each green roof installation can be addressed and a prescription
containing the proper green roof plant list and growing medium
be developed for use in each commercial green roof installation
plan. We invite you to visit our website for more results at
www.green-siue.com/researchresults.html.
Dr. Bill Retzlaff chair of the Department of Biological Sciences,
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and research coordinator of
the St. Louis metropolitan area research collaboration (G.R.E.E.N.).
Dr. Susan Morgan is chair of the Civil Engineering Department, Southern
Illinois University Edwardsville and research member of G.R.E.E.N.
Kelly Luckett is president of Green Roof Blocks, Florissant, Missouri
and industry-collaborator member of G.R.E.E.N.
Mr. Vic Jost is co-owner of Jost Greenhouses, Des Peres, Missouri
and industry-collaborator member of G.R.E.E.N.