On green roofs, maintenance makes the difference.

Professional care is the only way to keep your buildings’ green roof cost-effective and at optimal performance for the long term. Preventive maintenance catches potential issues early, avoiding costly and unnecessary repairs. Our highly skilled crews look for poor or blocked drainage that can lead to water pooling, leaks and mould. Crews check for plant stress, and if there are weeds or saplings, they need to go as they can quickly take over a green roof, damaging plants, and if left unchecked, can threaten the waterproofing membrane and the integrity of the system.

A dynamic, diagnostic green roof maintenance plan ensures that potential issues are prevented or quickly resolved. Doing things right saves time, money, and stress. You’ll see the difference maintenance makes.

Key elements to consider:

 Property access: we coordinate maintenance visits with property management and schedule smooth and timely visits that work for the building and its occupants.

 Access points: ensure that elevators and stairwells used to transport the crew, tools and materials to the green roof are safe.

 Co-ordinated visits: essential on new construction sites where active trades can unintentionally damage green roof components.

 Establishing plant coverage: new green roofs take about two years to mature and typically require seven seasonal visits from May to November.

 Improves stormwater performance: the green roof effectively manages retention and slows runoff, which protects against flooding and minimizes waterway pollution.

Do green roofs need maintenance?

Absolutely. Once the roots are established, they can be low-maintenance, but there is no such thing as a maintenance-free roof. Ongoing maintenance ensures that manufacturer guidelines and warranties are met. Without proper care, we subject the roof to invasive species, erosion due to wind exposure and nutrient deficiencies that stress the plants. A maintenance program during the establishing years results in lower maintenance costs down the road, fewer plant replacements and other avoidable repairs.

What services does GINKGO offer for routine maintenance?

We are the one-stop shop for green roof maintenance. Our services cover fertilization, dispersal of soil and mulch to combat erosion, weeding, irrigation, the clearing of root-free zones, and trimming as required. We provide an automated report for every visit to reflect the work done.

Generally, we suggest a visit monthly from May to November. When a green roof is fully established, usually after two years, site visits are typically four times a season. We do a site assessment to determine the health of the vegetation and the entire system and follow up with a proposal based on our findings. Maintenance packages can range from  bi-weekly visits to one every few months.

How much should I budget for green roof maintenance?

There is rarely “one size fits all” pricing. An estimate considers design, site conditions, size, and the history of maintenance, or the lack thereof. An upfront site assessment will best determine what needs to be done and how it can be achieved within your budget.