If you’re anything like us, you’ve seen the stunning vertical gardens and hanging plants all over your social media feed! If you’ve ever considered putting some of these gardening and landscape design ideas into practice, check out the blog for everything you need to know before you get started.
What is a vertical garden?
Simply put, a vertical garden is a standing area used to grow plants and crops. Taking it one step further than a climbing plant or trellis, these gardens are often favored in urban backyards with limited space. A vertical garden requires a strong support system and a solid wall or surface to attach it to and offers the chance to be even more creative with your planting. These flexible planting systems are usually soilless and can bring natural beauty inside the home or a gorgeous green ecology to a bare wall outside. They can be small or large-scale and work exceptionally well on a balcony or in a courtyard.
Types of Vertical Gardens
Here are some of the most popular types of vertical gardens:
- The green wall – This type of garden, also known as a living wall, is a self-sufficient vertical garden structure that is attached to a wall. Vegetation roots itself to the structure and usually receives moisture from a built-in drip irrigation system rather than from soil. A green fence usually consists of a frame, waterproof panel, irrigation system, and plants. This style of vertical planting can be an expensive option.
- Pallet planter – This is more of a DIY project to upcycle a disused old pallet, but it’s still vertical and space-saving. You can either modify it to hold plants inside or attach pots to the outside.
- Gutter garden – Reuse an old gutter system and turn it into planters fixed to a fence or wall – don’t forget to drill a few drainage holes. Spacing the gutters evenly apart in horizontal rows looks most effective. You can also create a hanging gutter garden in this way, using steel cables to separate and hang the guttering rather than fixing it to a solid surface.
- Hanging pots – A hanging clay pot vertical garden works especially well for balconies. Use a threaded rod and a series of flanges to space out and secure your pots before planting.
Let’s move on to some introductory tips for vertical gardening that could potentially increase your earnings (from your fruit and veggies) but also add to the aesthetic appearance of your backyard.
Selecting a Structure
There are many structure options you might want to explore when starting a vertical garden. We’ve listed a few of the most popular, providing some pros and cons you might want to consider before making a final decision.
- The wall of your home: Any wall can be covered by a vertical garden! The great thing is that most plants are adaptable, and lighting doesn’t generally present as an issue. More often than not, everyone has a wall where they can start their vertical garden; right from the get-go, you are already saving on excavation and labor costs. The good thing about wall structures is that they are generally strong enough to support most plants. On the other hand, you will need to put holes in the wall, which at times has a negative aesthetic appearance. It’s important to make sure that the holes can be carefully patched up to keep moisture (putty or silicone will generally get the job done) out of the wall. You can minimize the visible number of holes by building the frame on the ground first and then assembling it on the wall, using only rivets to hold the structure securely on the wall.
- TIP: If the sides of your assembly are also wooden, you might want to consider covering them with thick sheeting to stop water damage.
- A fence: A pre-existing wall makes a great low-cost support structure that can cater to most types of pots. Keep in mind the amount of sunlight each plant might require, and ensure you make your plant selections according to these considerations. Lining the pot with vinyl and composite is a great start; not only does it provide the nutrients that your plants/veggies need, but it also gives your pots long-lasting durability. If your pots are not made from clay/ceramic materials, you should put in the extra effort to make sure that you get the same durability as the clay pots. For example, if your pot is made from metal, you might want to consider covering them so that they don’t rust. If you prefer wooden pots, consider buying moisture-resistant wood such as cedar, redwood, or exotic hardwood to get the most durability.
- A specially built, free-standing frame: A free-standing frame, right from the beginning, will require a bit more outlay, not only in terms of labor but also cost. However, the advantages are that you can build it to the exact size you want, place it where it will make the best use of the sunlight, and offer the most charming appearance in your backyard. The discussion of fence materials above applies to a frame, too. Experienced vertical gardeners most often build out of aluminum or PVC pipes/tubing.
Hanging Plants
If you’re keen on the idea of vertical gardening but maybe don’t have the space, you don’t have to miss out! There are several hanging plant options to satisfy the need for vertical gardening indoors.
Even if you have a garden, you may not have the time to tend to a large yard, making indoor planting a much more feasible option. We are in an era of the indoor plant where a lack of outside space inspires an eye-catching indoor display that not only looks good but boasts big benefits, too, thanks to its air-purifying qualities. The beauty of indoor plants is that they can be arranged in any way, shape, or form, including in hanging baskets. The hanging indoor plant instantly brings life and interest to any room, from the kitchen to the bathroom to the main living space. To help you decipher the options, we’ve put together an easy how-to guide for selecting, caring for, and positioning your own indoor hanging plants.
Plant choices
Devil’s Ivy
This creeper thrives best in a hanging pot or basket, as it likes plenty of space for its vine tendrils to grow in all directions. If you’re tight on space and want your plant to hold a particular shape, trim back the vines or use wall hooks to drape the vines along the wall. This plant is very hardy, thriving indoors with little light or water. Its vibrant leaves are glossy and heart-shaped, making the plant a perfect addition to any plain or empty space. If you are looking for a low-maintenance plant that will forgive you if you forget to water it, then devil’s ivy is for you.