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Green Roof

GREEN ROOF

The Master Gardeners of Essex County were provided with a golden opportunity to establish leadership in energy conservation in a unique horticultural experience - the green roof. Popular throughout Europe, the center's main goal is to integrate the use of plants and their supportung structure to reduce pollution and run-off, and insulate against heat and cold, thereby reducing energy use.

This year will be the 5th Anniversary of the Roof Garden at the Essex County Environmental Center planted and maintained by the Essex County Master Gardeners. Lisa Caplan was an early member and is now leader of the Roof Garden Committee. The 1,200 square foot green-roof garden was originally planted with 9,200 sedums in a special 4-inch planting medium that covers the entire roof.  The Garden was designed by Master Gardener Bob Kroeckel to showcase the lovely muted colors of the dwarf sedums that now carpet the roof in drifts of yellow, pink, white and bronze.

Roof Gardens are environmentally beneficial in reducing water run-off from the building through absorption by plants. Plants cool the roof in the summer and insulate the roof in the winter cold.  The plant respiration helps in reducing the carbon footprint of the Environmental Center.

Maintenance of the Green-Roof Garden is a daunting task. Plants need constant transplanting and weeds, such as spotted spurge, proliferate in the roof’s planting medium and must be eliminated.   Lisa Caplan welcomes all new gardening volunteers to the Roof Garden.  She suggests they bring a long knife and knee pads.  The beautiful view and the breeze are free.  

Contact the Master Gardeners at 973 228 2210 to find out more information about the Green Roof and how to volunteer.

 Bob and Lisa plug away.                                                                                         

                                                                                                                                                                       Above, sedums keep growing.