Gardening tips, gardening info and heaps of ideas to help gardeners of all experience get more out of their hobby and out of their gardens.

Ever since coming across Patrick Blanc's vertical garden I've been interested to observe how this technology might transform the home gardening scene. I mean, it's only a matter of time before we begin running out room for gardens to grow on a horizontal plane. Yet vertical - that's another dimension altogether.
For most home gardeners the concept isn't a new one. We've been staking tomato plants, espaliering fruit trees and training creepers to grow over undesirable fences for aeons. Yet the thinking behind vertical gardens still seems radically new.
The reason: Whereas all our other vertical gardening exploits centred around plants being grounded in the soil, the vertical garden has absolutely no dependency on the ground. In fact, vertical gardens exist quite separately from soil and do so with inanimate ease.
But for most home gardeners, Patrick Blanc and his artworks are far beyond the comprehension and resources available to them. It's quite facile to understand that many would file it in the "too-hard-box" and continue growing plants using traditional methods.
However, as we have already experienced with increasing gas prices our conservative views of the world may need to change. Traditional methods of horticulture may become as extinct as dinosaurs and our interaction with plants and growing mediums will have to change.
So, here's a challenge for us all - myself included. Maybe we need to diversify a little and learn some new ways of doing things. Which is the reason for producing this post - a DIY guide to creating a vertical garden.
A few helpful links to get your started
The basics of a DIY Vertical Garden
The frame is basically the support for the vertical garden. On it, the backboard is adhered, fastened or riveted and then the holding sheet is stapled on top of that. For indoor applications, you can make a well at the bottom with a continuous feed pump moving the water back up and then filtering down through the plants via gravity. The water is usually filled, and refilled with nutrient, that sustains the plants.
If you decide to hang this outdoors then you can do away with the bottom well and just hand water the plants with a watering can.
Basically, the principles of hydroponics are used in this technology so no soil is used for plant growth. Plants are neatly embedded and suspended into the felt which becomes its growing medium.
Conclusion
Vertical gardens can be as simple or as complex as you choose. They can offer you another dimension to growing your plants or they could become living works of art that transform your backyard, balcony or patio. Regardless of how you start one, a vertical garden is a real possibility for any home gardener.
Comments
Vertical gardening seems like a viable option for those of us who are space-challenged. I think it would add a dramatic element to any garden space. Great article.
Posted by: Nancy Bond | July 5, 2008 12:45 PM
Very cool Stuart!
During a recent conservatory visit I saw a wall planted with orchids. Your post reminded me of it. I might have to dig up a photo and post it. Ever since seeing that wall I've thought about applications at home that would survive this climate.
Posted by: linda | July 5, 2008 9:49 PM
I saw the vertical succulent wall in the Met Home and thought it was fabulous...now if only a handy man came with the plants!
Posted by: Gail | July 6, 2008 3:21 AM
Vertical gardens also featured at this year's Chelsea Flower Show. This award winning garden sought to show how easily it can be achieved from quite simple materials.
You may like to look at this 'How to' from the BBC website:
[link has since been removed by the BBC]
Also the publication of Patrick Blanc's book on the subject is imminent!
Posted by: VP | July 7, 2008 8:50 PM
I saw some at the Hampton Court show that were just windowboxes mounted on a metal framework that you could fix to a fence or wall. The windowboxes were filled with trailing verbena, or Begonia 'Million Kisses', so that you couldn't see anything for the mass of flowers. A really simple way of achieving vertical planting.
Posted by: Victoria | July 9, 2008 4:51 AM
If you decide to hang this outdoors then you can do away with the bottom well and just hand water the plants with a watering can.
Posted by: Lisa Marie | December 24, 2008 2:08 PM
Don't use treated wood for a garden that is used to grow food. That's a very unhealthy idea. Cedar is the best choice for lumber. Any untreated hardwood will last for a few years. You can line it with plastic to extend it's life but again, the absolute worst idea is to use treated or creosote-coated timbers.
Posted by: Capt Nada | March 27, 2009 2:56 AM
for a DIY vertical gardens it is now possible to get a very handy modular system that looks great and promotes plant growth - made of recycled plastic bottles woolly pockets at www.gardenbeet.com
Posted by: Felicity Waters | September 18, 2009 12:50 AM
Yeah Capt Nada, cedar is definitely the best wood. If you can coat it with linseed oil it'll last even longer... but there are better materials than wood to build a living wall.
Posted by: Living wall artist | December 9, 2009 1:42 AM
For some other DIY vertical garden options. Check out Lushe.
Lushe
www.lushe.com.au
Posted by: Lushe | January 1, 2010 5:34 PM