Did you find the sedums struggled more in shady spots? I helped install a green roof last summer, and honestly, I was skeptical from the start about how "low-maintenance" it'd really be. Sure enough, after a few months, we had weeds creeping in and some weird soggy patches forming near the edges. Makes me wonder if drainage is always trickier than it looks...or maybe we just got unlucky? Either way, regular checks seem like a smart move.
I had a similar experience with sedums in shady areas—mine got leggy and sparse pretty quickly. Drainage can definitely be deceptive; I installed a DIY green roof on my garden shed thinking I had it nailed, but after the first big rainstorm, I found puddles forming near the edges. Ended up tweaking the slope slightly and adding extra gravel underneath. Since then, regular checks have really paid off. Sounds like you're on the right track with routine inspections...these roofs aren't exactly "set and forget," despite what some guides suggest.
Yeah, regular checks definitely make a difference. I went through something similar—not with sedums, but with creeping thyme. Looked awesome at first, but after a few heavy rains, I noticed some pooling and thinning patches. Ended up having to adjust the drainage channels and mix in some coarser gravel to keep things flowing better. Guides always make it seem easier than it actually is, huh? Realistically, these green roofs need a bit more TLC than people expect...
Interesting you mention drainage—did you find that the gravel alone was enough to fix the pooling, or did you have to tweak the slope a bit too? I've seen a few setups where people underestimated how much slope they'd need, especially after heavy storms. Seems like guides often gloss over that part... Curious if anyone else had to make similar adjustments after installation.
Gravel alone never really solved it for me. When I first set up my flat roof, I thought gravel and a slight slope would be enough, but heavy rains quickly proved me wrong. Ended up having to adjust the slope more aggressively than I initially planned—nothing drastic, but definitely noticeable. The guides definitely undersell that aspect; they make it sound like you toss some gravel up there and you're good to go. In reality, even a minor miscalculation can cause pooling issues down the line.
Did you find yourself having to redo any flashing or sealing after adjusting your slope? I had to reseal around one of my vents because shifting things around loosened the original sealant... bit of a hassle, but worth it in the long run.
