Green facades are an integral part of the cities of the future. However, vertical gardening can also find its way into your own home.

No matter whether lettuce or herbs, the construction methods are just as diverse as the plants that can be grown in them

For a number of years, vertical gardening has received increasing attention. Instead of looking for the space needed for gardening on a flat surface, the cultivation of the plants is shifted upwards. Various constructions rise steeply and offer the possibility of growing plants on several floors. A distinction is made between two main forms of vertical gardening:

  • Vertical gardening as facade greening or as a wall garden in the interior
  • Vertical gardening for growing vegetables in a limited space such as a balcony

Vertical garden - wall garden for more quality of life

Regardless of whether it's a modern skyscraper, the facade of an old building or the interior of an open-plan office - vertical gardens or facade greening are increasingly finding their way into our living space. The vertical use of plants as a building element is the hobbyhorse of some future-oriented architects. In the models of modern future cities, green towers that stand out from the cityscape are an integral part. They are intended to improve the attitude to life in the increasingly cramped urban space and also ensure that the polluted city air is cleaned.

Dream facades come alive with plants

Now you could simply let an ivy or vine climb up the wall and the facade greening would be complete. But the innovation of vertical home gardening is that it creates structures that allow plants to live on their own roots in the air without having to climb up the wall from the bottom. Devices that provide space for substrate for vertical garden plants to spread their roots are the foundation of this eye-popping cultivation style. The watering of the high- altitude plants can also be carried out using hydroponic systems. be thereno organic substrates such as peat are used, but the plants are only supplied with special nutrient solutions. It doesn't matter which substructure is selected for the vertical garden in the interior or on the outside facade - the wall garden is always expensive.

Vertical garden - Build it yourself for the balcony

"DIY - Do it yourself" is just as trendy as vertical gardens, for example for your own balcony. And the towering constructions can also be easily built by yourself in order to grow ornamental flowers and crunchy, fresh vegetables in a small space. Having your own vertical garden has a number of advantages:

  • Effective use of very limited acreage
  • Cultivation (including vegetables) possible in very limited space
  • Possibility to green the urban space
  • Decorative and relaxing eye-catcher
Little by little the plants will green the facade

There are of course many different ways to design and build a vertical garden yourself. The integration of an irrigation system in the vertical garden should also be considered. Because depending on the system, it is difficult to give water to the plants in need.

Possible constructions for a DIY vertical garden

  • Wall garden with substrate
  • Wall garden with hydroponic supply system
  • Vertical Pallet Garden
  • Column construction with pipes from the hardware store

If there is a large wall area available for vertical gardening, it is a good idea to create a wall garden. However, this means intensive care and a sophisticated irrigation system is required to optimally care for the plants. If less space is available, you can easily come back to constructions made of pallets or pipes. These are also easier to install.

Vertical garden made of pallets or tubes

The use of pallets as a living element is absolutely trendy. And this all-rounder piece of furniture can also be used perfectly as a vertical garden.

Pallet constructions already offer a good basic structure

A pallet becomes a vertical garden

Here is a quick guide on how to turn a pallet into a vertical garden for the balcony or patio:

  • Put the pallet upright so that the boards on the top are across.
  • Burlap from the inside to the boards on the topstaple.
  • Staple the pond liner from behind, below and the two short sides. The top of the pallet is left open to fill in soil.
  • Fill in a suitable substrate for the crops to be grown. Since the substrate should not be constantly exchanged, it is advisable to use a more nutrient-rich substrate such as our Plantura organic tomato & vegetable soil from the start.
  • Cut small slits in the linen from the front of the pallet. These should be just large enough for the plants root ball to fit through and be placed in the substrate inside the pallet.
  • The water supply can be made either through the upper open side of the pallet or directly at the root through the small slits in the linen.

You can find out more about growing herbs in a herb wall made of pallets, how to build them yourself and plant them properly in our special article.

Pipes from the hardware store become a vertical garden

The pallet garden shown above looks trendy and makes the most of limited space. The disadvantage, however, is that the wooden pallet is in direct contact with the permanently moist substrate - just like the linen that holds the substrate in the body of the pallet. Thus, this construction is not for eternity and must be replaced as soon as the ravages of time have gnawed at it too much. Alternatively, you can also create a vertical garden for the balcony from weather and water-resistant pipes from the hardware store. These constructions are reminiscent of Mediterranean herb pots for balconies and terraces. You can find out how to do this here:

  • Get plastic water/sewer pipes at the hardware store.
  • Diameters of 110 mm optimal, lengths from 0.5 m to 2 m well suited for a vertical garden. However, the longer the vertical garden is built here, the more complicated it can become with watering.
  • Drill holes with a diameter of 3 to 4 cm in the tubes with a saw drill. These will later represent the planting holes - so choose the distance accordingly. From an irrigation point of view, it is smart to put more holes in the top part of the pipe than in the bottom part.
  • If the watering of the plants is skilfully dosed, an end cap can simply be placed on the lower end of the pipe. Otherwise a drainage can be installed.
  • The substrate can be filled in and the plants can be used.
  • The longer the vertical pipe garden, the easier it will tip over. Therefore he should be in a suitable placefastened.

No matter which form of vertical garden you choose - in any case you have created an eye-catcher and more possibilities, even with limited space, you don't have to do without plants.

For more vertical garden inspiration, visit our Pinterest page:

Category:

Garden Design