The Professional Design Guide to Green Roofs
Undoubtedly one of the most invigorating and innovative trends in landscape design in recent years, the blooming of green roof gardens in both commercial and residential settings has energized cities and suburbs. Evolving dramatically from early examples reliant upon uninspired swaths of buffalo grass and cactus beds, green roof gardens can now employ the same panoply of plant materials available to on-ground gardens, thanks to a deeper understanding of design and construction techniques. The key to a successful green roof is the essential combination of aesthetic inspiration and the mastery of practical considerations critical to an installation’s favorable outcome. Covering design criteria such as color, shape, and texture as well as such fundamentals as site analysis, infrastructure, and operating costs, authors Dakin and Lisa Lee Benjamin provide a full-scale guide to both the design and building of ecologically friendly and pleasing—even spectacular—green roof gardens. Though suitable for landscape professionals, this volume will also be greatly appreciated by home gardeners. --Carol Haggas