My roof garden has been gradually evolving: it was constructed over a year ago but planting has been piecemeal and experimental. Last year I was very hard hearted and didn't water as I wanted everything to be able to fend for itself but with the dry Spring last year this made for a very slow start and many seeds just didn't come to anything at all. Another dry Spring and I am being a little more nurturing! I have given all planting a feed of fish blood and bone meal on account of the very poor soil/substrate, and have been watering occasionally, and results are encouraging.
On the sunnier parts of the roof (it is on a single storey extension to the North East side of the 2 storey house) I have planted mainly succulents either bought as small plants or grown in plug trays as cuttings and divisions. These are all doing pretty well and interference from Magpies has mainly resulted in more divisions and new plants. On less sunny areas I have experimented with a range of plants: some native wildflowers which naturally grow on poor thin soils like Sea Campion, Sea Thrift, Thymes, Wild Basil, Toadflax. I've also bought a few rockery plants like Phlox, Campanula, Helianthemum, and the Phlox in particular has been lovely with masses of flowers for a long period. Chives and Alpine Strawberry, now in their second year have established well and making good growth and I may even be able to harvest a few berries this year! Euphorbia cyparissus which is normally invasive is being far too well behaved and is clearly not impressed with the conditions!
I've also tried out a few bulbs: Crocus chrysanthus, dwarf Iris, and Chionodoxa in the shade. The darn Magpies had great sport pulling them out, but those that survived were a delight to look out at while brushing teeth on early Spring mornings. Last summer I planted out some outrageously lurid Mesembryanthemum and of course these relished the hot dry conditions and flowered their socks off so I'm growing more this year. I've also sown some Californian Poppy and Alyssum and growing some Aubretia to plant out later.
Part of the beauty of the roof garden is that it isn't on show, so I can take my time with it. The basic layout is good to look at, with mounds of substrate divided by 'rivers' of gravel with a few larger rounded stones to add texture. There's a big old log gently rotting down at one end to give the mini-beasts some habitat, and a shallow tin bowl collecting water for the birds (and I wonder why the Magpies hang around...). I haven't yet decided how much I mind about weeds so some get removed and others are tolerated as native vegetation, for the time being.
Anyone else have any roof gardening experiences to share?
Rose
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