Oh, Grow Up! Vertical Gardening – Tips & Inspiration

May 22 2012

Oh, Grow Up! Vertical Gardening – Tips & Inspiration

Vertical Garden, by The Blue Girl, on Flickr

Finally, a reason to grow up.

Vertical gardening is super-hot right now, though not at all a new idea. Just like skyscrapers jam-pack people into tight living quarters in big cities where space is at a premium, vertical gardening allows those with little ground space to make the most of their garden by utilizing their “sky space.”

When planning out your vertical garden, consider…

Vertical Support – Trellises, cages, bamboo, wood, steel, pvc pipe – make sure they are stable, secure, and able to support the weight of the plant and its fruit. Teepees are also fun if you have the right space!

Horizontal Support for Vertical Supports – Coated wire, clothesline, net, twine (compostable!), chicken-wire,

Varieties and Plants’ Needs - The taller you grow vertically, the more shade the structure will create for everything else below. Consider this when you choose what to plant where; use the top and most south-facing areas for sun-loving plants, and take advantage of the shade you create to nurture shade lovers. Also try to stick with plants with shallower, less complex root systems.

15 Helpful Design Tips for Vertical Gardens from themicrogardener.com
A short list of perennials and herbs well suited for Vertical Gardening from KoraOrganics.com

The Best Vegetables For Vertical Gardening from LiveStrong.com

Vertical Gardening from garden-planting-tips.com

Patrick Blanc is vertical gardening ARTISTE.

Ready for some inspiration?