Think Outside the Flowerbox
Looking for a fun way to spruce up your outdoor space and add a touch of greenery to your home? Try your hand at setting up a vertical garden. A vertical garden is exactly what it sounds like – you create an area in which plants, flowers, and herbs can be grown vertically instead of horizontally. Not only does this provide interest in the form of texture and color, but it can also save valuable space by taking advantage of the unused wall or fence areas.
And once set up correctly, growing a vertical garden can make gardening easier than ever before. Read on for tips on how to get started with creating your own personal green oasis.
- Choose the Right Location
The very first step in setting up a vertical garden is choosing the right location. You will want to select a spot where your garden can get plenty of sunlight, providing enough nutrients for your plants and ensuring a healthy yield. Look for a spot that has exposure to direct sunlight for at least 6 hours a day, as the more hours of sunlight, the better. Considering wind direction is important too; when possible, place your garden in an area that will be protected by walls or buildings that can block look winds. Finally, observe what type of soil is available in the area since many plants may require some amendments added to them – making sure adequate drainage and air circulation are provided as well.
- Choose the Right Plants
Once you’ve chosen the perfect spot, the next step is to find the right plants. Find some plants that are well-suited to vertical gardening, such as trailing plants, vines, and climbers. Look for plants that are lightweight, have shallow roots, and can handle being planted in small spaces. Getting some of these plants will help the grow and flourish when being grown vertically.
- Choose the Right Structure
In order to have a perfect vertical garden, you need something that can hold all the plants together. Find a structure that is sturdy enough to hold the weight of the plants and soil. Don’t forget that most green plants get heavier as they grow due to an increase in water and nutrients. Consider trying out trellises, pallets, and hanging planters which all make great options for inventive gardens. For example, low walls built with wood pallets can offer a canvas for any live wall art you decide to create.
- Prepare the Soil
Now that you have the right structure to hold your chosen plants in the chosen spot, time to find the right soil mix to make things work. Look for a mix that has good drainage abilities and is packed with nutrients to give your plants the best chance for growth. To boost that fertility even further, you can add compost or other organic material like peat moss, which will help provide extra nourishment. Doing this means you won’t need nearly as much fertilizer to grow healthy plants.
- Water Regularly
With everything needed for a vertical garden now set up, now all you need to do is to maintain your plants from dying out. Vertical gardens can dry out quickly when not attended to for days, so make sure to water your plants regularly to prevent them from death. If you want your plants to flourish, consider installing a drip irrigation system to make watering easier.
- Monitor for Pests and Diseases
Another danger to watch out for in your vertical plants is not only having enough water but the bugs and diseases lurking around. Keep an eye out for pests and diseases that can deal serious damage to your plants. Check your plants regularly for any signs of damage, and if found, treat those problems promptly. If you leave your plants untreated and uncared for, all your efforts in having a vertical garden would’ve been a waste of time.
- Harvest Regularly
After some time has passed, you’ll start seeing the fruits of your own labor start paying off. You’ve grown your plants, and they’re now ripe enough to be harvested. Regular harvesting will encourage your plants to continue growing and producing. Make sure to harvest your plants before they become overripe or begin to wilt. You don’t want to ignore your plants for a long time, only to find out that their produce has rotted away.
Conclusion
By now you should have a good idea of the supplies you’ll need to set up your sweet vertical garden. Though it may be a bit of an undertaking, creating, and tending to these gardens can bring so much joy — plus they’re great for sprucing up any area. Whichever type of vertical garden you choose, make sure to follow the instructions carefully so that it thrives. As with anything else, practice makes perfect – even if your first tries don’t turn out quite as expected, the more experience you gain the better your green thumb will get. If all else fails though, Sirwiss is here to help – book a gardener today and let us take care of your gardening needs no matter what type of setup you choose.