How to create a vertical garden

Vertical gardens not only help save and better utilize space, but they also keep the plants secure from children and pets. They can also be full of creativeness and visually stunning. Who doesn’t enjoy admiring a beautiful garden?

Home gardens are a great way to boost the look of your home and outdoor spaces. Not everyone is a seasoned veteran when it comes to gardening, and that’s okay. If you’re a beginner looking to create a vertical garden, no worries. Here are some useful tips to get you started.    

Garden Types

1. Gutter Gardens

Gutter gardens are an interesting and inexpensive choice for planting herbs and other small plants. To build the vertical garden, you need some rain gutters and supports. Make sure the gutters have end caps to contain the soil. Besides attaching the gutters to the wall, you can also find frames made for gutter gardens, or build them yourself. Here’s an idea for the frame from Lowes. Drill a couple of holes in the bottom of the gutter to drain the water, and tilt the pieces slightly to help with the water transfer. Also, keep enough space between the pieces on the wall or frame so all the plants receive enough sunshine. Since the quantity of soil is small, it’s better to plant smaller plants. Here’s a guide for designing a DIY rain gutter garden.

2. Bottle Gardens

Recycle your bottles into a functional and attractive bottle garden. Create a colorful garden by combining bottles of different colors. Cut the top of the bottle but don't discard it because you’ll need it later. Also, make drainage holes in the bottom of the bottle. Before planting the seeds, check the recommended depth for them. You can attach the bottles to the garden wall or hang them with a string. Here’s a guide for converting a bottle into a pot.

3. Hanging Pots

If you're looking for the simplest solution, then you can't go wrong with a hanging pots garden. Find a good, sunny spot for the garden and hang your pots with proper support. Make sure that the pots have drainage holes in them. Also, check that the frame for hanging the pots is strong enough to handle their weight.

Ensuring Proper Drainage

Make sure the pots drain well by making enough holes and keeping the holes unclogged. You can use a wire screen in the bottom to keep the holes open.

Watering the Plants

You have to be precise with the watering to maintain a healthy vertical garden. If you’re using top-down watering, check if the lower portions are receiving enough water and the upper portion doesn’t have it in excess. Using a water pump or timer can help you be more precise with the process.

Directed Growth

Encourage the plant to grow in the right direction. To achieve directed growth, support the plant and, if needed, trim it as well.

Choices of Plants

The best choices will vary depending on the way you want your home environment to feel, and the amount of space your plants will have. In regards to your vertical garden, House Method recommends using vegetables and herbs that don’t have sprawling root systems. Plants with shallow root systems also tend to be lighter, which will work in your favor. Some popular choices include:

Herbs and Vegetables: Grow your own outside or inside the home. As mentioned above, herbs can grow in smaller containers as well. Growing some vegetables vertically will need more support structures. Here are more tips for making a vertical vegetable garden.

Succulents: Succulents, like various types of Cacti, look beautiful and exotic. They also have compact root structures, making them a good choice.

Tropical Plants: Tropical plants, like bromeliads, palms and elephant ears, look stylish and provide good coverage as well.  

A vertical garden allows you to use your creativity, green thumb, and DIY savviness all at once. It is also a fun project to get your children involved in!