Sedum M-Trays® for Green Roofs

What is a Green Roof?

Green roofs, brown roofs, living roofs, roof gardens and biodiverse roofs are all essentially the same and involve growing plants on a roof.

The differences come in the type of plants used, density of planting and substrates they grow in. They range from very diverse wildlife habitats, using grass and native wildflowers, to ‘monocrop’ sedum used only to satisfy planning requirements, and can even have a negative environmental impact if peat is used.

A well-designed constructed green roof should have a positive green impact. A badly designed roof using peat and wildflowers can create more CO2 and environmental damage than they generate and be a significant fire risk.

Have a question?

The Wallbarn M-Tray®

The Wallbarn M-Tray® has been developed to provide a diverse range of sedum species that provide a flourishing wildlife habitat. The peat-free tray can survive hostile conditions found on the roof, without the need for excessive management or maintenance. We are constantly trialling new species to include in our mixes but are constrained by fire regulations which restrict the use of many annual wildflowers.

A well constructed green roof maintained in peak condition will:

  • Retain water and slow down runoff from the roof reducing flooding risk in accordance with Sustainable Urban Drainage schemes (SuDS)
  • Attract wildlife, bees, birds and butterflies into the urban environment
  • Reduce air pollution by locking up airborne particles
  • Change the micro-climate by providing insulation and humidity around buildings reducing running costs and cooling environment around the buildings
  • Promote positive mental health and wellbeing by reducing noise pollution and by absorbing CO2 and releasing oxygen into the air
  • Improve visual impact by softening and masking the appearance of many buildings in the environment
  • Increase chances of planning approval for new developments


A poorly maintained or badly installed green roof will have the opposite effect and negate all of the benefits of a well maintained green roof.  The key is to ensure that your roof has a realistic chance of thriving, that your investment is not wasted and you are not doing more harm than good to the environment.

Interested in a top quality green roof?

Ideal for home or work.
Contact Wallbarn for advice and quotation.
Go to Wallbarn website

Is your green roof in need of a bit of TLC?

Routine Maintenance Programmes Available.
Find out more here

Why is it so important to be peat-free?

Many also use peat as part of their compost and peat used in compost is environmentally damaging, unsustainable and expected to be banned in the foreseeable future.  Peat extraction releases CO2 and destroys habitats, contributing to global warming; green roofs should have a positive contribution not a negative one.

Wildflower Mix

Wallbarn also plants a wildflower mix into the M-Tray® with a combination of at least six different native species.
Go to Wallbarn website

Wallbarn M-Trays®

The Wallbarn M-Tray® is a deep square tray designed to retain water and provide enough growing compost to sustain sedum throughout the years.

The M-Trays® we produce for Wallbarn give the best chance of a thriving green roof by including all the ingredients needed within the recycled modular tray. As long as regular maintenance and watering is provided then you will have every confidence that your investment in a green roof will deliver the wildlife and environmental benefits.

Specific benefits of the Wallbarn M-Tray® include:

  • Easily transported and installed established vegetation, ensuring an instant green roof in click-together trays
  • Peat-free substrate eliminating damaging effects of peat extraction
  • Deep 100mm trays containing nutrient rich and peat-free substrate ensuring healthy roots and strong plants
  • Suitable for small domestic, retrofit and large scale commercial projects
  • Easy replacement to repair roofs and for building inspections


We do not grow and provide roll-out sedum because it:

  • Is more expensive to install
  • Does not allow for easy inspection of the roof or building
  • Is quicker and more cost effective to use the M-Tray® (when installation costs are included)
The GRO Green Roof Code
There are now very tight constraints as to what can legally be used on a green roof and many installations fail to meet the standards set out in the GRO Code.

The Green Roof Organisation (GRO) created the GRO Green Roof Code to provide relevant guidance for the design, specification, installation and maintenance of green roofs in the UK.
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  • Nursery Address
    Whitedown Farm
    Hook Lane
    Wootton St. Lawrence
    Basingstoke
    RG23 8PF

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Created by Far Design

Did you know?

We are peat-free and our trays are made of recycled plastic.