Seedling Magazine

The First Step on Your
Vertical Garden
Journey
by Kylie Johnson
There is no doubt that vertical gardens capture attention more
than traditional garden designs, as well as allowing you to
grow your own food to feed yourself. Whether the vertical
garden is a hanging floral garden or a space­saving vegetable
garden, the design is an artistic style statement.
What You Need to Start a
Vertical Garden
Size is usually dependent on the location and space available.
This is true even for vertical hanging gardens. External walls
provide excellent support for growing plants.
Make certain the types of plants you choose match the
specifications of the location. For example, if the vertical
garden is to be part of a landscape as a featured design,
measure the length and width of plant growth potential,
amount of sunlight plants will need and also plant colors and
shapes.
Also, choose the best method for keeping plants fed and
watered. If vine­type plants like English Ivy, Wisteria or
Pyracantha are planted, these plants' growth will need to be
adequately controlled or they may overtake the intended
location.
Creative Designs for Vertical
Gardens
The biggest decision when starting a vertical garden is the
design. Once you choose the design, size is the next important
issue to resolve.
The easiest types of vertical gardens to start are those that
require the least maintenance. Flowers like clematis,
bittersweet or variegated ivy are for gardeners who just want
to plant vertically and let the plants do the rest of the work.
Note that vertical gardens can be planted either to make a
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