Adventures In Vertical Gardening

Not everyone has enough space to create a lush and verdant garden, or so they may think. In reality, there are space-saving ways to create a garden in virtually any space. Vertical gardening is a great space-saving method of gardening that allows a person to grow just about anything.

It’s a simple concept; instead of planting in rows horizontally on the ground, gardeners use the vertical space available to them. This technique does not require a lot of effort, and there are many ways you can be creative, which will help make your garden stand out.

Creating a Vertical Garden

Vertical gardens can be created in two ways. They can be created by using trellises to get plants to grow upwards, or they can be created by installing planters vertically up a wall. Trellises can be a good option for those who live in apartments or who are unable to modify a wall to create the growing space they need.

Using a trellis for growing vertically requires taking a gardening container and adding a trellis element to it that allows the plant to follow up the trellis rather than trailing across the area. There are some pre-assembled containers that come with an attached trellis, or they can be made using wood or PVC poles and trellis netting connected with garden ties.

Using walls is another way to create a garden that will add a nice design element to your living space. A popular way to start growing on a wall is to install pockets or pouches using hooks, screws or nails. Then all you have to do is fill them with garden soil. For this purpose, there are specially made pockets guaranteed to hold a great deal of soil that will provide a good base.

You can also create your own pouches. When creating pouches, it is important to ensure there is enough drainage to prevent plant roots from rotting and to make sure that the containers can handle the weight of the garden soil and plants.

Some household items you can experiment with are cut pop bottles, ice cream buckets, old vases and repurposed gutters. Once your pouches are secured, simply follow the rules of container gardening and you should be harvesting in no time. Always keep the size of the container in mind when planting.

Grow Trays

Trays are another option for vertical wall gardens. Try wooden trays that have a layout similar to the plastic ones that can be purchased at the beginning of the season. These cells help keep your plants secure against the wall while offering excellent drainage. Smaller cells work well for cacti and other succulents, while larger cells can handle plants that require more water and rooting space.

There is yet another option for a vertical garden, and it comes in handy when using a wall is not ideal. Simply create a false wall using a wooden pallet or another similar item. The wooden pallet is secured to the wall, and the containers secured to the pallet.

This method helps reduce the number of holes that are made on the actual wall. Make sure the pallet is completely secure before planting. No one wants to deal with a pallet that has fallen over.

A vertical garden is the same as any other garden. It needs the right soil, fertilizer, pest control and water. No matter which containers you use, it is vital to use the best soil to maintain the health of the planter. You’ll also need a plan to ensure even the highest planters get enough water.

This is easily done by using a wand extension that can be added to your garden hose. A drip system can be a good way to water higher plants if a water wand is not available.

Overall, a vertical garden is an excellent option for someone who is not able to have a traditional, horizontal garden or someone who is just looking to have that extra something to help their home stand out. It can provide a great growing place for someone who wants fresh flowers, vegetables or herbs, but who doesn’t have a large yard. There are few limits when it comes to creating fabulous, thriving vertical gardens.