Drone view of finished landscape renovation project of 3rd floor rooftop garden. The Rooftop garden was divided into five sections with existing Liriope in the middle flanked by Everillo Sedge and Blue Fescue in front and Maynight Salvia and Gulf Coast Muhly Grass in the rear.

Pre-renovation view of the existing 3rd floor rooftop garden from inside the building cafeteria. The previously existing rooftop garden was divided into three sections. Big Blue Liriope was the middle section flanked by two outer sections of Asian Jasmine. For an unknown reason, the Asian Jasmine sections failed, while the Liriope section did well. The decision was made to leave the Liriope section and then replace the two Asian Jasmine sections with other plant material.

After the decision was made by the current management company to renovate the existing rooftop garden, the only way to efficiently do the job was by utilizing a crane. The work was done on a Saturday to avoid as much as possible downtown Houston traffic. Logistics played a major role in the successful undertaking. Traffic control, crane rental, material deliveries, crews working overtime and of course the weather had to cooperate.

Rooftop soil mix was loaded in super sacks and crane lifted to the 3rd floor garden. Eight additional super sacks were added/ incorporated into the existing soil mix to prepare the new garden planting bed. The old fashioned bucket method was used to move most of the soil to the areas where needed.

A temporary yellow chain fence was put up around the perimeter of the rooftop work area. All workers had to stay within the barricade area so as to not need to be tied off while working. Notice the tie-off stanchions that are spaced throughout the rooftop. Without the perimeter barricade, we would have to have every worker tied off throughout the renovation project. Also notice the irrigation header pipe for the drip system. We cut loose the existing lines for planting and then re-installed them after planting. The building, being a LEED Platinum required the use of a drip system.

Keeping in-line with LEED practices, an organic fertilizer and Humates were added to the existing planting mix at the time of the landscape renovation.

Blue Fescue and Maynight Salvia are shown being separated to get ready for planting after being lifted to the rooftop via crane.

The center section of the existing planting of Big Blue Liriope was left intact. Additional plants were filed in the area as needed.

Blue Fescue and Everillo Sedge ready to be spaced out and planted after being lifted to the rooftop. Rooftop soil mix super sacks were emptied and spread as soon as possible. As the soil sacks were emptied, they were lowered and loaded at ground level with plant material to be lifted to the rooftop for planting.

Plants being spaced out and readied for planting. The entire rooftop was planted in one day.

Any soil, plants and equipment that was not lifted to the rooftop by crane, had to manually carried to the rooftop 30 ft. via ladder. Careful logistical coordination of materials and personnel was crucial.

The rooftop ladder opening for personnel. This is the only access for maintenance crews.

The soil super sacks were used for double duty lifting all materials and equipment to the rooftop during the landscape renovation. They also were used for demolition debris removal.

One of the five sections planted was Maynight Salvia. The rows of dripline was re-installed on top of the soil and then buried just below the cedar mulch installed. Cedar mulch was chosen to use because it is lightweight and for its color. The same vendor that supplied the rooftop soil mix also supplied the cedar mulch in super sacks.

A view from within the building cafeteria of the finished rooftop landscape renovation project showing the downtown Houston Skyline. The rooftop garden overlooks three of downtown Houston's biggest draws; The George R. Brown Convention Center, The Hilton Hotel connected to the Convention Center and the popular people park, Discovery Green!

After the perimeter chain barriers were removed, all landscape workers must now be tied off when performing any duties.

An overhead drone view of the finished rooftop landscape renovation. From left to right; plant material shown are Gulf Coast Muhly Grass, Maynight Salvia, the existing Big Blue Liriope, Everillo Sedge and Blue Fescue. Plant counts used were 120 - (1 gal.) Gulf Coast Muhly, 450 - (1 gal.) Maynight Salvia, 75 - (1 gal.) Big Blue Liriope (fill-ins), 220 - (1 gal.) Everillo Sedge and 360 - (1 gal.) Blue Fescue. The contrasting plant colors and textures will be fun to look at as they mature.