For those with small yards, or no yards at all, a vibrant thriving garden can seem out of reach. But luckily the popular trend of green walls has become very fashionable. Either part of a building or free standing, this sustainable innovation is healthy and great to look at. Also known as living walls, these vertical gardens are packed with flora that benefits everything from our lungs to our ears!
If you’ve got limited land to work with, check out some of these great ideas to transform wall space into green space.
Window Boxes
The window box is the most common way to elevate a garden. Secured with a couple of metal brackets, these long, slim planters can be fixed beneath a window or attached to the railing of a balcony or porch. One of the most flexible options for those with limited space, window boxes are ideal for setting up a flower garden or growing culinary herbs — really any plants that don’t need to set down deep roots.
Terrariums
These clear glass spheres were all the rage in the 1970s and are making a comeback in the gardening world. Available in a number of interesting and unusual shapes, these glass planters can be hung from the ceiling to show off a miniature ecosystem. By trapping in humidity, terrariums keep plants from drying out, making them a perfect option for those looking for a hassle-free garden. A terrarium is best suited for hardy succulents, cacti or air plants, and you can add a few decorative touches to them too, like coloured pebbles, twigs, sand or dyed reindeer moss.
Air Plants
Air plants are true freaks of nature. Lacking a root system, these plants pluck dust and debris from the air and use it as their soil. Because they don’t need to be planted in a growing medium, you can stick one of these hardy plants just about anywhere — in a terrarium, grown upside down in a hanging ceramic planter, or even glued to the wall with a special plant-safe adhesive.
Vines
Vining plants love to creep up walls, fences and any other vertical space you’ve got, so they are a great addition to the yard if you don’t have much of a yard to speak of. Edibles like peas, tomatoes and cucumbers are particularly easy to grow. Just sow along a chain-link fence, or slap together a simple trellis system and you’ll have a bounty of vegetables by mid-summer.
Hanging Tomatoes
Apartment dwellers with a hankering for fresh, summer-ripe tomatoes have long had to make their way to a farmers market for a taste of this ultimate summer fruit. The Topsy Turvy Tomato Planter promises to give the space-bereft a chance to grow their own by literally turning the growing process on its head.
If you’d rather make your own upside-down garden, it’s not difficult. A few hanging planters with holes cut in the bottom is all you need — that and a little patience.
Vertical Planters
A vertical planter transforms fence space into green space. But whereas the Woolly Pocket uses a soft fabric, a vertical planter uses a system of angled plastic compartments that hold the plants in place, while allowing water to filter down through your greenery. The drainage on these systems isn’t spectacular, so they are best suited for plants that prefer drier climates, like succulents.
The sky is the limit when it comes to these hanging garden ideas, and with little maintenance these plants are an ideal addition to your indoor or outdoor space.