SEDUM MATS OR
SEDUM TRAYS?

Sedum roofs have traditionally been made by means of sedum mats. These mats are produced by harvesting the top part of the growth medium together with the sedum plants. To ensure continued growth, it is necessary to add an underlying layer of growth medium, as an installation height of at least 60 mm is needed to achieve a healthy and luxuriant roof with optimal growing conditions.

At Nature Impact we have developed an innovative tray system, where drainage layer, growth media and plants come in one and the same tray. Sedum trays have many advantages over sedum mats – mainly that they are easier and quicker to lay out.

5 advantages of sedum trays

1.

Sedum trays can be laid out by one person, whereas sedum mats are so heavy that handling them requires at least two persons

2.

Sedum trays can be laid directly onto the existing roof in one quick and easy work session, whereas sedum mats require drainage layer, cloth and soil to be laid out before the mats can be laid

3.

From a total economy perspective, sedum trays are generally a cheaper solution than sedum mats as they are quicker to mount

4.

The sedum plants in trays are typically healthier and hardier as they come from the horticultural farm with the growth media they are cultivated in

5.

Sedum trays absorb and delay more rainwater than sedum mats

Construction of sedum mats and sedum trays

Laying out sedum mats is a time-consuming process. It involves several work sessions, including laying out the drainage layer, cloth, soil and finally the mats themselves. These components are difficult to control in blustery conditions, and require time and manpower. A single sedum mat is big enough to require two persons to handle it.

The module-based tray solution from Nature Impact is the opposite. Sedum trays are ready to be installed directly onto the existing roof on delivery, without cloth or extra soil. Thus one person is able to lay out 25-40 m2 sedum trays an hour.

Safe installation under all conditions

The system in each sedum tray makes laying out fast, and ensures that nothing flies away during installation. During production, Nature Impact’s sedum trays have an edge, which prevents plants from growing together on the ground. This edge is removed on delivery, and the sedum trays can now grow together to form one homogeneous roof mass. Therefore, Nature Impact’s sedum trays are approved for use at a height of up to 50 metres, thanks to them growing together. Even in strong windy conditions, sedum trays can be laid out safely and effectively, and they stay where they are afterwards.

Sedum trays have pushed sedum mats out of the market.

The advantages of sedum trays over sedum mats mean that 80-90% of all sedum roofs in Denmark today are sedum roofs in trays.

As the first on the market with an innovative sedum roof in trays, Nature Impact is currently the market leader in Denmark. You can read much more about our sedum roofs here.