DIY vertical gardens

Vertical gardens grow on panels supported by – you guessed it – vertical surfaces, such as walls and fences. At their most high-tech, they are lightweight and soil-less, but you don’t have to be an expert to cover an unsightly wall with lush plants.

Set some garden goals

One size does not fit all with vertical designs, so it’s best to think about the aim of your project first. For example, do you want to camouflage an unsightly backyard fence, make a design statement or establish greenery in a tight space? The next thing to consider is the amount of light the area will receive, which will determine which plants are suitable for that area and how well they grow.

Creeper and vining plants

With guidance, common creepers, such as the native Hardenbergia violacea (commonly known as native sarsaparilla and purple coral pea) and food-producing vines, such as tomatoes, strawberries, passion fruit, runner beans or bitter melon – which grow skyward with little effort – can be grown in wall units. These plants require full sunshine and are more suited to outdoor spaces. If you have limited space in your garden or patio area, a simple way to create an instant vertical garden is to prop an old wooden ladder against a wall and train a pot creeper, such as waxflower, to climb up it. Bear in mind, though, that regardless of what you grow your plants on or in, they will grow at the same rate only if they receive the same amount of sunlight. If they are sun-loving and the bottom half of the unit is in the shade, only those at the top are likely to flourish.

Once you’ve established your goal and judged the amount of light the area will get, narrow your options by looking at the main DIY products available. Masters Home Improvement and Bunnings Warehouse are great places to start.

Plus another useful source for ideas about what to grow is page 17 of this guide;

Pot and wall units

Pot and modular wall planter units are readily available, require little time to install and are easy to maintain. Bunnings sells a range of basic, freestanding or wall-mounted kits with or without integrated irrigation systems, which you can use outdoors. For an up-market and 100-per-cent Australian-made offering, Vertical Gardens Australia does customised self-watering green walls and a mobile veggie garden. However, there are many specialist plant nurseries that deal with vertical gardens and irrigation for them. Plants, like most other products, are available online for delivery.

Hydroponic systems

It’s possible to grow almost any kind of plant hydroponically, given the right setup. As a result, hydroponic vertical gardens are often popular in large or commercial environments. Options are available for smaller spaces and budgets, however. Western Australia-based Hydroponic Solutions’ self-watering AutoPot starter kit includes everything you need to get started – except the plants. You can get these from plants suppliers, such as Four Seasons Nursery. For those who are more ambitious, making your ownhydroponic system is possible. But if you’re using material such as PVC piping, the end result may be more about function than style.

Hanging plants and other options

One of the oldest and easiest ways to create a vertical garden outside is to use groups of vertical potted plants. For a sustainable concept, you can use Woolly Pockets’ ‘Wally’ recycled vertical-garden range on all sorts of walls. For a less expensive, environmentally friendly option, cut a large hole in the side of a recycled plastic 750ml (or larger) bottle and punch holes in the opposite side. Lay the bottle down and fill it with soil, then plant herbs, such as thyme and oregano, or small chillies. String the bottles together horizontally, and hang them on a wall or from the ceiling (preferably outdoors) to complete the look.

Vertical gardens are a great way of covering an unsightly wall, especially if you’re considering selling your home. They’re also an ideal option for space-challenged and time-poor homeowners – they just need a bit of love and attention to flourish. Matt Cantwell, managing director of Sydney’s Secret Gardens, warns that big vertical gardens – particularly those affixed to walls – can be costly, so just be realistic if you’re on a budget.