Yeah, grass roofs can definitely turn into a nightmare if they're not managed properly, especially in wetter climates. But I'm glad you mentioned the bee thing with creeping phlox:
"Had it on my shed roof for a while and found it attracted bees like crazy during flowering season..."
Honestly, that's something people overlook way too often. Sure, bees are great for pollination and all, but if you're allergic or have kids who might freak out around buzzing insects, it could quickly become a problem. Plus, I've noticed that creeping phlox can spread pretty aggressively if you don't keep an eye on it. It might look tidy at first, but it can start creeping into gutters and around flashing, potentially causing drainage issues or even leaks.
Curious if anyone's tried sedum mats instead? I've heard they're low-maintenance, drought-resistant, and less attractive to bees. Seems like a decent alternative worth checking out...
Yeah, sedum mats aren't bad at all. I've installed a couple, and they're definitely easier to manage than grass or creeping phlox—especially if you don't wanna spend your weekends up on the roof trimming stuff back. Just make sure your drainage is solid beforehand...seen folks underestimate that.
Sedum mats are decent, I'll give you that, but they're not exactly foolproof. I installed one a couple years back thinking it'd be the ultimate low-maintenance solution—no more weekends spent wrestling with creeping phlox or patchy grass. And yeah, it was great...at first. But drainage is no joke. I thought mine was solid, but after a particularly rainy spring, I ended up with a soggy mess and some leaks that had me climbing up there way more often than I'd planned.
Ended up having to redo the drainage layer completely—lesson learned the hard way. So yeah, sedum mats are definitely easier overall, but don't skimp on prep work. Double-check your drainage setup, maybe even add an extra layer of gravel or something just to be safe. Trust me, it's worth the extra effort upfront to avoid headaches later.
I went through something similar a while back—thought I'd cracked the code with sedum mats too. Like you, I underestimated the drainage factor. My roof looked fantastic for about six months, then winter hit and things got messy fast. Ice dams formed where I never had issues before, and come spring, the runoff was pooling in weird spots. Ended up pulling everything apart to redo the drainage layer with better gravel and some geotextile fabric.
Honestly, the prep work is everything here. If you skimp on that initial setup, you're basically setting yourself up for headaches later on. Sedum mats are great once they're established, but they're definitely not a "set it and forget it" solution like some companies advertise. I'd even suggest going a bit overboard on drainage—better safe than sorry, right? Since I redid mine properly, it's been smooth sailing, but man...that first year taught me a lot about patience and planning ahead.
- Agree drainage is key, but honestly, sedum mats might not be worth the hassle for everyone.
- Switched to native grasses and wildflowers myself—less picky about drainage, survived winter better, and attracted pollinators.
- Just another angle to consider before doubling down on sedum...
