A beautiful garden is a lovely compliment to a beautiful home. But what if you don’t have space for a garden, but you do have a lovely, tall wall? A vertical garden may be the perfect thing for you! This system, explained below, is based on the work of Philip Yates of the Singer Hill Café in Oregon City, OR, who founded the website The Vertical Garden Institute.
Choosing a wall
The good news is that almost any wall will do! Whether you want to put a system on a wall or if you choose to use holders, choosing the perfect wall will assist with sustainability and decor.
Build a Frame
Build the whole setup before hanging it. While you can attach it directly to a wall, if you ever want to take it down, it will be easier as one piece. Some materials that can be used include 3/4-inch PVC pipe, elbows, and four-way joints to build a frame. Do not use metal or wood as the weight and deterioration can cause serious issues.
Set Up the Irrigation System
To keep plants growing on a vertical surface, you’ll need an irrigation system. Most use a piece of fabric as a filter for the water. An irrigation supplier can assist you in finding the perfect system that works for you. You want a quick flow of water for 10 to 15 seconds from three to six times a day. Attach the frame to the wall using stainless-steel hardware to avoid rusting.
Add Fertilizer Injector and Attach Irrigation System to Water Source
To fertilize your wall, attach a fertilizer injector with a simple irrigation valve. This will send liquid fertilizer into the irrigation system. Then hook up the irrigation system and connect it to your water source. You’ll need to filter the water with an irrigation water filter, which is cheap and available at most hardware stores.
Remember, there will be some runoff One way to deal with it is by planting a flower bed underneath your vertical garden.
Choose Your Plants
This is the most important and amazing part of the process! Picking your plants involves taking into account your weather situation. The temperature is important. If you intend on leaving them planted all year, keep that in mind when you’re selecting. If you intend to leave the garden out during the winter, use plants that can survive the bitter cold. If you’re building a detachable wall, you could try storing it in a cool, dry place for the winter while the plants are dormant.
Insert Plants
To insert plants into the outer layer of fabric, use a razor blade to make a horizontal cut in the material. Get as much soil off the plant’s root as possible, and insert it into a cut. Make sure not to overfill the space you’ve created for each plant.
Learn More About Outdoor Creative Ideas
At Eakman Construction, we know projects like a vertical garden can look amazing on Pinterest but can be challenging to set up in real life. Give us a call today at (206) 972-2275 to learn how we can make your wall look amazing. It will be the center of your next party!