How to Make a Vertical Garden + 7 More Tips

Do you want to know how to make a vertical garden? Here are 7 tips and answers to frequently asked questions about building a healthy, low-maintenance living plant wall that you’ll love…

How to Make a Vertical Garden FAQ

1. What Materials Do You Need to Build a Vertical Garden?

A. Vertical Structure

First of all, you’ll need a wall or fence where you can attach your planter. Alternatively, you can build a freestanding garden independent of other structures. You can also buy pre-made vertical garden kits, which eliminate a lot of the guesswork because you simply assemble the planter.

B. Planting Container

Second, you’ll need some sort of planter. You can use plastic flower pots, metal containers, fabric pockets or wood with plastic liners. Plus, some people recycle gutters, mailboxes or wooden pallets to create a custom-looking garden. Not to mention, you can save money too.

C. Hanging Hardware

Third, get hanging hardware to attach the planters to the wall, fence or post (ie screws, brackets, nails, hooks, etc..). If you buy a vertical garden kit, many of these packages include the hardware that you’ll need.

D. Planting Soil

Fourth, buy planting soil or compost. If you want to start plants from seed, get seed starting mix, which typically contains sphagnum peat moss, vermiculite or coconut coir. By the way, these materials make a good option if you want to keep your planter lighter in weight.

E. Plants

Fifth, choose the plants you want to grow. Some people decide to grow herb gardens too.

F. Irrigation

Sixth, select a watering system if you don’t want to water your garden by hand. A simple way to do this is buy a drip watering kit, connect it to a hose spigot and set it on a timer.

Some vertical gardens only need the top level irrigated, as the top levels drain down to the lower levels. Therefore, the entire garden gets watered automatically.

2. How Do I Install a Vertical Garden on a Wall?

To hang a planter on a wall, you’ll first need to establish a proper support system. Clean the surface and add any waterproofing sealer if necessary.

Fabric Wall Pockets for Plants - Create a DIY Vertical Garden

Some people choose to assemble a basic wood support frame, secure it to the wall and then hang the planter on the frame. This provides space and air flow between the foliage and the wall. Plus, it may make hanging easier.

Alternatively, you can just attach the planter to the wall. In either case, you can use a masonry drill bit to drill into stucco or brick, or wood screws to hang planters on fences.

Wood Slat Wall Planter for Indoor Vertical Gardens

3. What Plants are Best for Vertical Planters?

The ideal plants will depend on your area’s climate and the location of your planter. For example, sunlight, temperature and humidity. I like to focus on low-maintenance plants that don’t grow a large root system.

Urban Eden Vertical Garden Planter with 5 Levels, Freestanding Design, Use Inside or Outdoors

Many people like plants that grow to be full and bushy, therefore covering the planting container. For instance, ferns, spider plants, ivy, pothos, etc..

Other people like growing edibles like herbs, lettuces or strawberries. Succulents also make great vertical growers because they require minimal maintenance.

4. How Much Sunlight Do Plants Need?

The amount of light you need will depend on the plants you grow. Below are some ideas for different sunshine/shade levels:

  1. Full Sun Plants: Basil, rosemary, and thyme, plus succulents like sedum and sempervivum.
  2. Partial Shade Plants: Ferns, spider plants and some flowers lik petunias and impatiens.
  3. Full Shade Plants: Ferns, ivy and boston ferns.

5. How Do You Water Vertical Gardens – and How Often?

Drip Irrigation Kit with Timer for Vertical Gardens on Walls or Fences

As we talked about above, you can hand-water your garden or connect a drip irrigation system. You can also set up mist irrigation.

  1. Manual Watering: This option is simple and low cost, and it may be the best choice for smaller gardens or if you only have a few plants.
  2. Drip Irrigation: Installing drip requires more work and cost up front, but it can keep your plants healthy with minimal care over the long run.
  3. Mist Irrigation: This method involves misting the plants with water. For plant varieties that like humidity, this can be a great option.

Watering frequency depends on the type of plants you’re growing, the climate, soil and drainage. Start with a routine watering every 1-2 days and adjust accordingly – you don’t want the soil to dry out, nor do you want roots to get water-logged.

In addition, schedule watering in early morning or evening, so you minimize water evaporation.

6. What is the Best Soil for Living Walls?

Starter Plant Fertilizer Pellets - Time Release

The best soil will depend on your plants. That said, here are a few guidelines.

  1. Drainage: Choose a good potting soil or a soil-less mix specifically designed for containers.
  2. Aeration: Adding perlite or vermiculite to the soil to allow proper air flow to the roots for healthier growth.
  3. Nutrients: More nutrition typically results in healthier, better-looking plants. Choose a mix that contains slow-release fertilizer pellets or mix in some compost.
  4. pH Balance: Some plants have specific pH requirements. For example, succulents and cacti generally prefer a slightly acidic soil with a pH between 5.5 and 7.5, while most herbs and flowers prefer a slightly alkaline soil between 6.0 and 7.5.

7. How Do You Care for a Vertical Garden?

Just like any plants in your yard, vertically-grown plants require a certain level of care. However, they can be pretty low maintenance, especially if you install an automatic watering system.

Vertical Garden Green Wall Made with Felt Plant Pockets

To keep your garden lower-maintenance, choose the right plants for your climate and sunlight. In addition, provide nutrient-rich soil that aerates the roots (like we talked about above). Also, establish a regular watering schedule that keeps the root system moist but not soggy.

Thereafter, simply prune any overgrowth or dead branches/leaves as needed. This can stimulate bushier growth for fuller, better-looking plants.

Also, potted plants benefit from regular fertilization. Look for slow-release granules or water-soluble fertilizer and add a couple times a year or per the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Self-Watering Vertical Planter Makes Vertical Gardening Easy!

I think giant living walls look really cool. However, the thought of installing or constructing a massive vertical garden seems like a lot of work. That’s why I love this self-watering vertical planter because it makes vertical gardening easy. (Not to mention good looking!)

Self Watering Vertical Planter Kit

I’d rather build a large vertical garden out of small parts and piece them together in smaller manageable sections. Of course, I’d want the finished product to look like one big living wall as opposed to several small planters.

That’s why this vertical garden kit caught my eye. This self irrigating planter has a super simple design and is easy to piece together. At the same time, the end result appears to be a single wall planter.

You could even use a row of these containers underneath a window instead of using the typical planter boxes. Not only are they lightweight and easy to attach to a wall or wooden railing, but you can combine multiple segments to create the length of planter you need.

They are also conveniently designed to hold individual flower pots, so you can easily remove and replace plants as you like. This feature is really nice for a seasonal herb garden or planting colorful annual flowers each spring, summer and fall.

Worth Vertical Planter System on a Wall

The High-Tech Design of the Self Watering Vertical Planter:

In addition to being simple to set up and install, this vertical garden also is designed with a water-conserving professional grade irrigation system. Save water, save money and save time all while growing healthier and happier plants. An automatic watering system drips water into the top level of your garden, and the underlying levels are watered one after the other through a trickle-down system that is built right into the planter.

3-Pot Section of the Worth Vertical Planter Automatic Watering System

The Worth Self Watering Vertical Wall Planter is sold in 3-pocket sections and included a filter layer that is removable. Place soil and plants directly into the pockets or insert potted plants with the pots.

The filter layer helps plants “breathe” and grow healthier, plus the reservoir keeps plants watered up to two weeks, depending on climate and species.

Vertical Planter Assembly Instructions

Make your living wall as large or as small as you like. You can also design your garden in a unique shape or design. On to of that, you can use it indoors or out. And if that wasn’t enough, the containers are safe for growing edibles (made from recycled propene polymer).

Dimensions: 19″ long x 7″ tall x 7″ deep