Maximize limited space with vertical gardens

Vertical gardens give city and urban residents the opportunity to crow vegetables, herbs or ornamentals in very little space. A colorful vertical garden incorporating edibles and/or annuals can dress up an otherwise uninspiring fence line or an unattractive view. This type of gardening has been popular in Europe for decades, and this technique is now trending in the United States. Also called "living walls", or "green walls", vertical gardening takes advantage of growing plants in a wall-mounted planter system, rather than in-ground. Once you have chosen the structure for your vertical wall from the multitude of options on the market you can use these guidelines for a successful vertical garden.

However, there is a learning curve. It's not just about plopping pots into a wall system, for example, plants on the side of a building may cook if you don't adapt for conditions. You need to take into consideration the conditions where the vertical garden will be, same as if you were planting in the ground. Such as; what is the amount of sun exposure or shade, watering needs or wind exposure? While living walls thrive in warm climates, they are still feasible in cold regions. But you will need to plan for winter dieback. Even hardy perennials such as sedum and grasses go dormant in cold weather and come back, but you're always going to have empty spaces come spring. You should factor in at least 15 to 20 percent dieback, and don't be surprised if you're replanting sections of the garden periodically.

Not every plant is ideal.

This is also part of the learning curve. Over time, you will build a plant list. Hardy perennial herbs such as oregano, sage and mint can thrive. Edibles such as lettuce, strawberries and Swiss chard are options for colder climates. Tropical plants such as ferns are viable in warm climates. Succulents are a beautiful addition, but they could require additional techniques such as planting through a sturdy mesh because they don't have a deep root system to hold themselves in place.

You need irrigation.

While hand-watering with a wand is possible, it's labor-intensive and impractical for many applications. Most modular systems include drip irrigation options that can be plumbed into an existing irrigation system. Typically, you'll establish multiple zones, grouping plants that have similar water needs together.

Maintenance is crucial.

Because most vertical gardens use very little soil in their design, you need to put the nutrients in with the water. This can be accomplished many ways. As plants mature their roots system holds them in place. Until then you will need to keep a close eye or they could droop or fall out as the soil dries and contracts. Vertical gardens have to be cared for like any landscape.