Rooftop Grass?
Yes, funny title....I will be in ny for about 6 to 9 months this upcoming september, I will be in the south bronx (clock tower building)
It has come to attention there.....IS NO GRASS! lol This wouldn't be a problem but I do have two dogs that need pottying whenever I get home. I have half of the rooftop to work on, so I was wondering does anyone here know how to create a piece of grass on the rooftop? I know you can grow gardens and whatnot but I just need grass...I was trying to read up on some information some told me to just make a deep box and put soil in it with grass sod or seeds.
Any ideas? =/
Im no expert but for a do it yourself I would say tar your roof top, its imperitave that you have a good water seal, and then throw down a layer of newspapers, perhaps a layer of mulch, and then a couple of inches of dirt. On the top I would put some sod as your not exactly entering the grass growing season. You don't want the layers of earth to be more than a foot and threaten the buildings structural integrity.Originally Posted by i_commit_sins
Grass on the rooftop will be very problematic ...
First it would have to establish itself for a few months before you start trodding on it.
Next, if you're panning to use it for a dog run then the poo + pee will just burn the grass.
And when winter comes it will freeze and die.
Not to mention the drainage issues on the roof.
You'd be wise to check with your neighbors / landlord before you start up a project like this -- otherwise you might find yourself in a classic NYC tenant dispute (which would be a good initiation to NYC but I don't think you'd like it too much).
check this out: http://www.nyspirit.com/Issue126/article2.html
Greening New York
One Roof At A Time
... it is important to understand that there are two kinds of green roofs. Extensive green roofs are lower in weight, cost and maintenance than the more comprehensive intensive green roof. Plants for extensive roofs tend to require only a few inches of soil and little irrigation or care. But while they may be less maintenance than intensive green roofs, they are generally unable to accommodate human traffic.
Intensive green roofs are heavier, more costly and require more maintenance. But in return for the additional efforts, intensive green roofs can grow vegetables, shrubs and trees. These roofs need about 12 inches of soil and are heavier than the extensive roofs.
“You need to understand what it is you can physically do on your building,” says Cheney. “For example, a brownstone’s roof has certain qualities and a certain structural ability to hold a certain amount of weight. So you need to figure out what shape your roof is in. When was the roof last put down? Is the roof deck wood or concrete? When was the waterproof membrane last replaced?”
In addition to determining the structural qualities of the roof, you also need to think about how you would want to use your green roof.
“Is it something you will be regularly using? Is it something you would want to have gatherings on? Or is it something you would rather use privately and maybe just have a vegetable patch?” asked Cheney. “Or maybe you have a backyard and you don’t need or want anything comprehensive but you still like the idea of making your building more green.
Perhaps you just want to cover it with a shallow layer of soil and cover it with wildflowers.”
Once you have assessed the structural state of your roof you can balance its needs and strengths with the kind of green roof you want — either adapting the garden to the roof or spending the money necessary to adapt the roof to the kind of garden you want.
This may initially sound overwhelming but to help you figure this all out, in June 2004, Earth Pledge is launching its Green Roof Toolbox, which will include a 15-step how-to guide, found at www.greeninggotham.org.
You'll be my neighbor, I_Commit_Sins, though I don't live in the Clocktower.
Forget about the roof and do as everyone else does: walk the dogs and bring a scooper. Seriously, there are a ton of dogs in the neighborhood, and people will hate you if you let your dogs take a dump on the roof.
thanks for the advice, I might get a petapotty...three hundred dollars but whatever....my dogs are some the country, so it will take them some time getting used to shitting or peeing on the sidewalk lol. we'll see how they feel about it!
There's not much grass in the immediate area at all. There is a community garden right across the street from the Clocktower, but it's not open most of the time, and you definitely wouldn't be allowed to bring a dog in there.
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