Landscape professionals can ensure they create an ideal green roof for its environment, thanks to a series of free-to-use web tools from Boningale GreenSky.

The two sets of award-winning online guides, one aimed at contractors, the other aimed at designers and architects, were designed in partnership with the University of Sheffield and offer a comprehensive package with advice, tips and guidance.

Maggie Fennell, Technical Green Roof Expert at Boningale GreenSky, the green roof division of Boningale Nurseries, said the tools were devised to help the horticulture sector use best practice at all times when planning a green roof.

“Creating a green roof is technically challenging but the rewards are huge, so it’s really important for  any landscape architect and contractor to have the right information to hand so that efforts don’t go to waste,” said Maggie.

“We’ve been working with experts at the University of Sheffield for the past few years and have developed a number of products. These include SkyPlugs and SkySuperstrates, which have been academically and scientifically tested for green roofs, wherever it is located.

“To complement these, our free web tools and guides will enable most landscape professionals to create a high-performance and flourishing green roof.”

The web tools for contractors has a handy installer checklist, which covers all the basics for creating a green roof, as well as a weedspotter guide to help them distinguish between the wildflowers that are meant to grow on the roof from nuisance weeds that should be removed.

The tools for designers have a substrate depth guide, which demonstrates the impact of changing substrate depth of plant choice and performance, and ‘plants for wildlife’ catalogue – an easy-to-use reference that assesses the wildlife support value of different plants.

Designers also have access to a substrate selector. Boningale GreenSky’s award-winning substrate selector tool has been developed using PhD research to determine the best substrate for different performance criteria, maintenance requirements and local rainfall levels.

Maggie said that by using Boningale GreenSky’s free online catalogue, tools, and design guides, designers and contractors will be able to select the ideal substrates and plants for their roof garden locations.

“People are often surprised at the range of different and interesting species they can use in their locations and the visual impact their green roofs can make,” said Maggie. “The online tools really do help to create a stunning effect and we hope many more landscape professionals use them.”

About SkyPlugs

They are all grown by Boningale GreenSky in a mix of peat-free growing medium and substrate that mimic the conditions they are planted in. Being 65cc in volume and 62mm deep means they are ideal for planting into lightweight extensive green roofs, while the strong rootball ensures they can outgrow their plug quickly, thus reducing the “shock factor” that often happens during transplantation.

About SkySuperstrates

This unique range of SkySuperstrates have been developed as part of PhD research supervised by Gareth Phoenix at the department of Animal and Plant Sciences. The range comprises four types of substrate that allow installers to choose the ideal medium, according to geographical location, rainfall and required maintenance.

To find out more, visit www.boningale-greensky.co.uk