Overview
We have conducted a comprehensive research program to upgrade our outdoor living wall systems, located within the regions having very cold weather combined with wind blowing, to find out a solution, i.e. the best treatment as well as the most suitable plant species in cold regions, for keeping the plants’ roots unfrozen under such conditions. As a pilot project, we designed and installed six separate living walls, out of which three living walls were installed at the yard of a high rise building located within a mountainous cold region; while the remining three ones were installed, as part of a roof garden project, at the roof of the same building, where there is always wind blowing as well. All the three living walls of the yard were installed exactly the same as each other concerning the type and pattern of planted plant species, but they were different from each other in the treatments applied against the cold weather; while the remaining three living walls of the roof were installed using only one type of plant with a simple uniform pattern, but with different treatments against the cold weather. All these six living walls were monitored and investigated since September 2019 till September 2022 for a 3 years period. Based on the results of this study, we were able to find the best treatment as well as the most suitable plant species in cold regions, for keeping the plants’ roots unfrozen under such conditions. Now, we would be fully ready to offer this amazing innovative feature to our Canadian customers for their outdoor living wall projects.
Our Study Details
Living Walls Installed At The Yard:
- Minimum air temperature: -10 degree centigrade;
- Maximum wind velocity: 10 km/h;
- Installation date: September 2019;
- Plants used at all the three living walls: Sedum, Lavender, Myrtle, Rosemary, Lamium, and Hedera;
- Treatment used at the first living wall: Control treatment (without using any precautions against the cold weather);
- Treatment used at the second living wall: Electric heating elements*; and
- Treatment used at the third living wall: Heating powder materials**.
Living Walls Installed At The Roof:
- Minimum air temperature: -15 degree centigrade;
- Maximum wind velocity: 20 km/h;
- Installation date: September 2019;
- Plants used at all the three living walls: Lavender;
- Treatment used at the first living wall: Control treatment (without using any precautions against the cold weather);
- Treatment used at the second living wall: Electric heating elements*; and
- Treatment used at the third living wall: Heating powder materials**.
* Low power consumption electric heating elements, turning on only at the predefined time periods during the days and nights, mounted between the PVC waterproofing panel and the hydroponic skin.
** Heating powder materials, which are capable to absorb the sun heat and release it gradually, mixed with the planting soil directly.