Can you walk on sedum matting?

Growing your own sedum mat like Turfonline’s Enviromat sedum matting is a superb way to build groundcover or create an alternative lawn, but its most common use is for green roofing. But can you walk on it?

Sedum matting is an environmentally-friendly alternative to traditional roofing. Adopting Enviromat Sedum matting provides benefits like improved insulation and a reduction in storm water runoff.

It’s okay to walk on sedum occasionally, provided the weather is mild and the plants are healthy.

But how often is “occasionally”? To make everything crystal clear, we’ve written this guide to walking on sedum matting.

Can you walk on a sedum green roof?

Sedums need a limited amount of maintenance. When it comes to green roof maintenance though, you will need to walk on the plants to check the drains, apply fertiliser and pull out the odd weed. On a green roof, you should only need to do this twice a year, so there is little need to be walking on them. Provided you don’t go stomping about when it’s frosty, you won’t do any lasting harm to the plants.

Please make sure that during the installation stage, the sedum matting is the very last thing to be installed on your new roof. That means air conditioning, skylights and everything else need to be in place before the sedum is unrolled. There has been many a beautiful green roof that has failed to establish because it’s been damaged by heavy footfall.

Can you walk on sedum ground cover?

Sedum groundcover is so easy to look after – no mowing, no deadheading, no pruning, very little weeding. Utter simplicity.

Sedums are characterised by their fleshy leaves which come in different shapes, colours and sizes. The leaves are easily damaged by feet but given time (and provided the damage is not too radical), they can repair themselves. But, a sedum lawn will never be as hardwearing as a grass lawn.

The reason sedums are so self-sufficient is partly down to the structure of the plant. Take a look at those leaves -they’re like tiny water balloons full of fluid. The fluid contained in the leaves is what sustains the plant when water and nutrients are in short supply.

Just like balloons, when you squish them, the cells that hold onto that fluid may burst. Once burst, they cannot be repaired. So, stepping on a sedum plant may damage some of the cells beyond repair. But, in time the plant will regrow those cells and all will be well. But, if the leaves are trodden on too frequently, the cells will be damaged faster than they can be replaced. Then, the plant will be unable to sustain itself and it will die.

 

What are the rules for walking on sedums?

Firstly, NEVER walk on sedum plants that are frozen. If it’s frosty outside or if cold weather is forecast, keep off.

Next, try to spread your weight when walking on sedums, or ease pressure on the plants by laying planks or boards before you walk on them.

But, don’t leave the boards down for too long, as sedums still need daylight.

Thirdly, please don’t walk on sedums any more than you have to. If you need to cross your sedum or your green roof regularly lay a permanent path with gravel, mulch or paving stones.

Finally, avoid walking on sedums when the plants are not actively growing. That’s between October and March and during long summer droughts.

Take a different route every time you walk on your sedum lawn – that way you’ll avoid stepping on the same plant twice.

Extra advice and information

Get more advice and information on caring for your sedum lawn or living roof here.

Find out what makes sedums so drought-tolerant here.

Find out more about using sedums for low-maintenance ground cover here.