Vertical gardens - How to Suceed!

There seems to be an idea that vertical gardens or vertical gardening are only for those with limited space on the ground. Not so! More or less every house will have available vertical space – whether it is a wall, fence, pergola upright or any other pole. If all of these are otherwise occupied, then you can make an additional garden space by making your own upright gardening frame!

There are many things to be considered before setting up, but these items should give you some ideas and point you in the right direction.

There will be individual reasons for deciding upon any form of upright gardening. Don't be put off by the splendour of the commercially available vertical garden units. A couple of pots on a post are fine if that what you decide you want!

It is a very simple and basic question that will lead to many answers which are prone to problems as well as having gorgeous advantages. There are right ways and wrong ways to go about any form of vertical enhancement with plants.

Magazines are full of images of beautiful walls clad in greenery and dripping with flowers.  The accompanying articles rarely outline the pitfalls that can be part of the dream! Photographer drops in, takes photo and departs. Writers are interested mainly in the end product for lifestyle magazines or articles. Bad news does not sell – especially where beauty, happiness and inspirational gardening is concerned.

We will throw some ideas at you, and hopefully get you started in the right direction.

Why a Vertical Garden?

We want to encourage you to engage in wall, fence or post gardening – that’s why the pictures will encourage if not allure. But, we will also outline the practical problems that have to be thought about or overcome before you spend time or money.

All types of gardening present problems to both inexperienced and experienced gardeners. My Monday mailbox is testament to that! The gardening retail trade is not fully geared towards practicalities. ‘Colour sells’ is the mantra. How you look after that ‘colour’ or maintain it to perfection is normally dealt with by offering back up cures! If you want to embark upon vertical gardening – other than a few pots wired to a fence – take your time and think out the subsequent maintenance aspects – as well as choosing the right plants.