Tips for planting a vertical garden

With apartment blocks dominating the city skyline and homeowners preferring larger dwellings, the size of Australian backyards continues to be compromised.

Between 2002 and 2012, the average block size in Australian capital cities shrunk by about 20%. At the same time the size of the house increased by 9%, a recent Housing Industry Association Report found.

As a result, the backyard lost almost a third of its size as homeowners looked to put the largest possible footprint on shrinking lots.

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Now, more than 40% of all new homes are multi-unit dwellings. Yet Australians still love the outdoors, and it has become more and more difficult to achieve the right balance between indoor-outdoor living.

With smaller backyards, a vertical garden is one of the best ways to make the most of limited space and is becoming increasingly popular.

Adding a functional vertical garden to an unused wall will save space and add a much needed splash of colour. Layering by colour and texture will add visual interest and make the space look bigger.

So long as you’ve got a blank wall or bare fence that needs enhancing, you can create a vertical garden. There are many ways to build a vertical garden and many things to consider before you do.

Top 3 tips for creating a vertical garden

Landscape expert and Abri Masonry ambassador Jason Hodges offers his top tips:

1. Choose the right style

There are many styles of vertical garden so it’s best to choose one that will work well with the space. Using individual pots will provide a chic finish, and you can alternate the colour and style of the pots to match the season. Try classic terra-cotta in spring and metallic tin in winter. If applying pots to an existing wall, be sure the wall is sturdy enough to support them.

Note: Recycled soft pockets are a great light alternative to pots and come with metal grommets that can be easily screwed to your wall.

2. Pick the right plants for your garden

Some plants love shade while others require daily sunshine to thrive. The amount of sunshine the area receives will be the biggest factor in determining your plant options.

Succulents require full sunlight in order to survive. If you can’t promise your plants regular sunlight, a leafy green foliage that likes shadier, cooler climates, like Hestia or Baby’s Tears, would be a good choice to start. Dainty Geraniums will add colour and texture, while long-lasting Bromeliads have the ‘wow’ appeal and require very little soil – making them ideal for vertical gardens.

General rule: If it grows in a pot, it will grow in a green wall. But you will need to carefully consider what will work best for your garden, in terms of sun and shade. Most edibles take well to vertical gardens, so if you’re an avid cook why not plant some vegetables, herbs and spices?

3. Give it lots of love

Don’t just set and forget your vertical garden; plants will need to be pruned and may need to be replaced from time and time and they will need to receive regular water and feed. A vertical garden needs just as much care and attention as any other type of garden.

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