Small green roofs: low-tech options for greener living

This book is a useful resource for novices interested in building their own green roofs. The initial four chapters define the green roof, give general information on construction, provide recommendations on plant selection, and discuss the basic principles of maximizing biodiversity. The book does not provide detailed instructions and plans on how to build a green roof. However, green roof specialists Dunnett (urban horticulture, Univ. of Sheffield, UK) and colleagues do provide lots of ideas with examples of over 40 small-scale green roofs that were installed on sheds, garages, and houses, and include numerous color photos. These real-life experiences of the people who designed, constructed, and maintain their own green roofs make up the bulk of the book. They will spark one's imagination on what is possible, inform the reader on how the roof was installed, and explain what these owners would do differently if they were to do it over again. It should help future do-it-yourself green roof enthusiasts avoid repeating the mistakes of others, and it shows that green roofs do not have to be complicated and expensive. Overall, the book is written in plain language that a typical homeowner could easily understand. Summing Up: Recommended. Two-year technical program students, practitioners, and general audiences. B. Rowe Michigan State University

Whether in the urban jungle or a pastoral countryside, a hard rooftop presents an opportunity to improve drainage, increase biodiversity, and create microhabitats. With 40 small-scale examples of green roofs, from sheds to houses, this informative manual will inspire and inform. The authors, hailing from the U.S. and U.K., bring together a wealth of professional, academic, and personal experience in living roofs. This lavishly illustrated book reviews the basics of design and installation-building structure, weight of the roof, drainage, growing medium, irrigation, and plants-with the bulk of the pages devoted to real-life examples. The projects include a garden shed that was beautified by Dunnett with a variety of flowering plants, a city rooftop retreat, and a commercial-scale organic farm in New York City. Structures from the U.K., New Zealand, and a host of locations within the U.S. demonstrate that green roofing is a flexible technology that can be applied to a range of climates and serve many purposes. For homeowners, landscape architects, and engineers, this is a great overview of projects that won't break the bank. (May) Copyright 2010 Reed Business Information.

This collaboration by four enthusiastic experts demystifies the process of planning, designing, installing, and maintaining green roofs. Dunnett (landscape dept., Univ. of Sheffield), with Dusty Gedge (founder, livingroofs.org), John Little (Grass Roof Company), and Edmund C. Snodgrass (Emory Knoll Farms & Green Roof Plants, Street, MD), discusses roof design, plant selection, growing media, weight loads, and other practical considerations and extols the benefits of living roofs. Bountifully illustrated and brimming with stimulating information and ideas, this guide, which claims to be the first book to focus on small-scale domestic green-roof projects, fills a niche on the gardening shelf and nicely achieves its objective to be "both inspiring and practical." More than half of the book is devoted to engaging profiles of creative and unique green-roof projects, including sheds, garages, houses, small structures, and community projects, undertaken around the world, including Dunnett's own garden sheds. Sidebars add context and perspective. VERDICT Highly recommended for gardeners and environmentalists and anyone interested in greening up.-Donna L. Davey, New York Univ. Lib. (c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This collaboration by four enthusiastic experts demystifies the process of planning, designing, installing, and maintaining green roofs. Dunnett (landscape dept., Univ. of Sheffield), with Dusty Gedge (founder, livingroofs.org), John Little (Grass Roof Company), and Edmund C. Snodgrass (Emory Knoll Farms & Green Roof Plants, Street, MD), discusses roof design, plant selection, growing media, weight loads, and other practical considerations and extols the benefits of living roofs. Bountifully illustrated and brimming with stimulating information and ideas, this guide, which claims to be the first book to focus on small-scale domestic green-roof projects, fills a niche on the gardening shelf and nicely achieves its objective to be "both inspiring and practical." More than half of the book is devoted to engaging profiles of creative and unique green-roof projects, including sheds, garages, houses, small structures, and community projects, undertaken around the world, including Dunnett's own garden sheds. Sidebars add context and perspective. VERDICT Highly recommended for gardeners and environmentalists and anyone interested in greening up.—Donna L. Davey, New York Univ. Lib.

Whether in the urban jungle or a pastoral countryside, a hard rooftop presents an opportunity to improve drainage, increase biodiversity, and create microhabitats. With 40 small-scale examples of green roofs, from sheds to houses, this informative manual will inspire and inform. The authors, hailing from the U.S. and U.K., bring together a wealth of professional, academic, and personal experience in living roofs. This lavishly illustrated book reviews the basics of design and installation—building structure, weight of the roof, drainage, growing medium, irrigation, and plants—with the bulk of the pages devoted to real-life examples. The projects include a garden shed that was beautified by Dunnett with a variety of flowering plants, a city rooftop retreat, and a commercial-scale organic farm in New York City. Structures from the U.K., New Zealand, and a host of locations within the U.S. demonstrate that green roofing is a flexible technology that can be applied to a range of climates and serve many purposes. For homeowners, landscape architects, and engineers, this is a great overview of projects that won't break the bank. (May)