If you have an outdoor space that is lacking in shrubbery, style, or even simple square footage, vertical gardening could provide you with plenty of opportunities.
As the name suggests, a vertical garden is one that grows upwards rather than horizontally. A trellis or support system is attached to garden walls to enable planting upwards, which can create beautiful focal pieces as well as the provision of seclusion and privacy. Whether used for flowers, herbs or vegetables, a vertical planter can create a truly beautiful outdoor space with as much or as little upkeep as you desire.
What are the benefits of green walls?
Sometimes called green walls or living walls, vertical gardens help homeowners maximise the space in their garden, no matter how big or small.
It’s an especially popular choice in city dwellings that may only have limited space and/or paving, as the structure can be mounted to any wall for an instant injection of foliage and colours. Trellises can be bought ready-made, or you can craft your own structures from bamboo poles or wood. Once attached to the wall, you can grow a number of things.
When it comes to flowers, you can consider plants and vines that work well in creeping growth patterns such as:
- Sword fern
- The Lipstick Plant
- Pathos
- Dracaena
- Australian native monstera
You can also use vertical gardens to plant foods such as:
- Beans
- Spinach
- Kale
- Peppers
- Tomatoes
- Herbs such as mint, parsley, or thyme
There are a number of benefits associated with choosing to grow upwards rather than outwards!
- It’s a simple space saving solution – vertical gardens help small spaces seem bigger by taking foliage and planting off the ground.
- They are easy to get started – you don’t have to worry about digging soil or prepping the ground as you would with flowerbeds. There are some other things to think about however, such as irrigation if needed.
- There’s less maintenance involved in caring for a living wall, as you don’t have to worry about weeding, pests, and plant diseases.
- For the maintenance that is required, there is no back-breaking work or bending down to worry about, which can be a relief for gardeners with limited mobility.
- There are plenty of different styles you can choose from, whether you want something traditional and simple, oversized and lush, vintage-inspired, or contemporary. The sky – or the top of the wall – is the creative limit!
How to plant a vertical garden
Firstly, you’ll need to decide which wall(s) will be transformed, as things such as the size and whether or not these are sun-facing can impact what you choose to put on your living wall.
Some people prefer trellises, while other utilise scaffolding, shelving systems and more depending on preference. You can either buy a frame or construct your own, and if doing the latter, make sure it is finished before you start buying any plants to make sure it fits as is needed. You’ll then need to waterproof the wall; attaching a sheet of plastic to the back of the wall will act as a shield for any moisture coming off the plants. The modular system will then need to be attached to the wall so that you can enjoy your creation in all it’s glory!
If you want to make easier the task of creating a living wall, you can trust our professionals to help create beautiful vertical gardens in a range of different spaces. Click here to view our gallery and discover some of our past beautiful creations.
