Good points about moss being picky—I've seen a few moss roofs thriving, but usually they're in shady, damp climates. Chamomile sounds neat, never thought of that one.
- Creeping thyme worked great on a friend's shed roof; smelled awesome, looked nice year-round.
- Wondering if chamomile attracts bees or insects? Not a big deal, but something to think about...
- Also, does anyone know how these plants handle snow or frost? Our winters can get pretty harsh, and I'm curious if they'd bounce back easily after heavy snowfall.
Either way, props for thinking outside the box—beats another boring asphalt roof any day.
Chamomile's an interesting idea, but I'd be cautious about its winter hardiness. I tried creeping thyme on a small garden shed roof a few years back—looked fantastic in summer, but after a particularly harsh winter with heavy snow and ice, it struggled to bounce back fully. Took a good chunk of spring to recover. Chamomile might behave similarly, though I haven't tested it myself. Definitely worth experimenting on a smaller scale first before committing to a larger area.
"Chamomile's an interesting idea, but I'd be cautious about its winter hardiness."
Yeah, I get your hesitation. A buddy of mine tried sedum on his garage roof last year—looked awesome at first, super vibrant and lush. But after one rough winter with ice dams forming up there, about half of it didn't make it through. Makes me wonder if there’s a way to prep or insulate these green roofs better without spending a fortune... anyone here tried extra insulation layers or something similar?
Makes me wonder if there’s a way to prep or insulate these green roofs better without spending a fortune...
I feel your pain on the sedum. We tried a small green roof patch on our shed last year—looked great until February hit. Ice dams and heavy snow pretty much wiped it out. I haven't tried extra insulation yet, but I've heard drainage mats underneath can help a lot with ice buildup. Might be worth looking into before next winter rolls around...
"I've heard drainage mats underneath can help a lot with ice buildup."
Drainage mats can definitely help, but they're not always enough if you're dealing with heavy snow and ice dams regularly. I've seen folks have decent success by adding a thin insulation board beneath the drainage layer—doesn't cost an arm and a leg either. Also, choosing hardier plant varieties can make a difference... sedums look nice, but sometimes they're just not tough enough for winter's wrath, sadly.
