A traditional landscape will span over a memorable horizon. Luscious green lawns, blooming flowers, cohesive color schemes, artistic walkways and unique lighting are just a few elements that can contribute to an impressive design. But landscaping trends are always evolving with creativity and over the past few years we’ve seen some modern concepts climbing in popularity: vertical gardens and living walls.
A vertical garden is an excellent option for smaller spaces lacking in square footage but still craving greenery. Intimate backyards, apartment decks and modest patios offer limited ground space, but instead can host vertical outdoor decoration. The term ‘vertical garden’ is used loosely, as it can be structured in a number of different ways and designs. You can fill in a wooden frame, hang a trellis, stack pots or trays on top of each other, or even use a repurposed pallet. The possibilities are only limited to your imagination! Vegetables, tomatoes, Rosemary, fruits, your favorite herbs or even some annual flowering plants are all great choices for these eye level gardens, and they give wallflowers a whole new meaning! Imagine having a garden on the wall of your kitchen, depending on the amount of light you receive this may be possible and you can simply pick your herbs right off the wall for your cooking delight. Another upside to verticalscapes? Their ability to be moved if needed or desired, as most are not fixated against or mounted on a wall permanently.
Similar to a vertical garden, living walls make great conversation starters. The difference between vertical gardens and living walls depends on who you ask, my classification is that gardens will be mostly used for herbs, fruits and vegetables (edible) and a living wall’s primary use is for aesthetics. The living wall’s upward instead of outward approach literally flips landscaping on its axis. You can cover an entire wall or fence for a dramatic aesthetic while simultaneously aiding in privacy and protection of your outdoor space. We have utilized this design element in small patios where planting areas are limited, along large concrete sound walls where the harshness can be tamed by greenery and even inside conference rooms to give your office a greener vibe.
A living wall, requires some key elements for success and depending on the type of wall (fence, building, concrete, etc.) you are attaching it to, the prep work will be slightly different. One thing you will want to be sure and include is a waterproof barrier between your plants and your wall, the other is an automatic irrigation system. Because living walls are irrigated from the top down it’s easy for the plants at the bottom to get overwatered and those and the top to get underwater, for this reason it’s crucial to set up the irrigation delivery system properly. How you attach the plants to the wall matters and I have seen some major failures over the years. Our favorite product is called GrowUp Living Greenwalls and they offer a simple, yet effective solution to your living wall needs and even have a watering system built in.
You can include a large variety of plants in your living wall however depending on the sunlight, the soil you use and microclimate you are in, it may take a few tries to get the right mix. Some of our favorite plants to include are: Ivies, ferns, moss, succulents, fuchsias, wisterias, and certain grasses and other flowing plants. My advice is try different types to get the appearance you want and go into it expecting some of the plants not to make it, as not everything can live on its side.
If you’ve recently downsized your house or moved into an apartment vertical gardens and living walls are a great option to bring some green into your life. Don’t be bound to the ground when designing your next home project. Take your “landscaping” to new heights and enjoy a vertical garden or living wall!