A vertical garden adds dimension to your yard or garden, reducing the amount of space needed to grow plants. It can be used indoors or outdoors, allowing for a wide variety of plant species to be grown. This type of garden also helps reduce weeds and allows sunlight to reach the lower parts of plants, which is beneficial for promoting good plant health and preventing disease.

The first step in creating a vertical garden is to decide what you want to grow. This could be herbs, vegetables or flowers, but it’s important to choose varieties that are well-suited for this type of growth. Herbs like basil, mint, and thyme work well in vertical gardens because of their compact size. Perennial or annual vines are another great option, such as morning glories, clematis, or honeysuckle. For shaded spaces, English ivy and Virginia creeper are excellent choices. For a splash of color, flowering plants such as geraniums and nasturtiums also do well in vertical gardens.

Benefits and Basics of Vertical Gardens

If you’re using trellises or structures to support your vertical garden, make sure the structure is sturdy and will be able to handle the weight of the plants. It’s also important to think about how much sun the area gets and where you’ll be placing your vertical garden. A sunny area with full sun is ideal, but some shade is okay as long as the plants receive enough light.

If you don’t have a lot of money to invest or savvy carpentry skills, consider making a DIY vertical garden using repurposed materials. You can use a pallet, for example, to create a colorful vertical garden and line it with weed-blocking fabric before filling with potting soil. You can also use old containers, such as repurposed cans or jars, to grow a vertical garden on your wall.