Pocket Planters: How to Make a Lightweight Vertical Garden

Vertical gardens provide elegant outdoor decor, however, large planters can weigh a lot. On the other hand, pocket planters give you a simple, lightweight solution for growing plants on a wall. (And, a low-cost kit makes installation easy!)

florafelt wall pocket garden

There are a few ways to lighten the load of a vertical garden besides making a smaller garden (the obvious =)).

First are the plants themselves.

Second, a soil that is less dense can add less weight to the garden.

Third, the container itself contributes pounds, and when made of lighter weight material, this can make a big difference in overall weight.

1. Plants for a Lightweight Vertical Garden

First, let’s talk plants. Smaller plants of course will weight less. Also, plants that don’t grow lots of roots will require less soil. Herb gardens can be perfect for creating a lightweight garden. Other factors to think about are the lifetime of a plant and its growth rate. Annuals can be replaced each year with new, small plants.

Varieties that grow slowly, like succulents, will of course stay small and add less weight to your container. Succulents are also nice because some don’t require a lot of water, which also adds pounds.

2. Soil for Vertical Planters

Obviously, using less soil will lighten the load of the garden. Therefore, it’s a good idea to consider planters that are shallow or have small sections. smaller plans that require less soil will also help.

You can also buy or “make” lighter weight soil, The first option is to buy lightweight potting soil at your local nursery or home improvement store. The second option is to make your own by mixing perlite, peat moss and/or vermiculite in with your regular potting soil. In addition to weighing less, these mixtures also help with aerating the soil, improving drainage and preventing the soil from compacting.

3. The Container that Hangs Vertically

Planters made of lighter materials (ie plastic vs wood) can significantly reduce your garden’s weight. However, these planters can sometime be less sturdy and durable, so you want to be careful.

lightweight vertical garden

A new type of planter that has recently come out incorporates recycled nylon felt with a plastic backing – creating a 3 foot by 2 foot container that weighs less than 2 pounds. Seriously!

Not only is it lightweight, it’s highly durable and recycled. At this weight, you can build a simple frame out of wood to enclose your garden – or none at all. As you can see by the photo – the plants look great even without a frame.

Another cool feature about this planter design is that little soil is required. The felt allows proper drainage and lets plants breathe, so they stay healthy.

Gutter gardens can also work, because they provide a shallow planting area. Plastic gutters are lightweight, yet are made of heavy duty material to stand up to storms, rain water, etc..

What Herbs Grow Best in a Vertical Garden?

Fresh Dill Herb

Ideally, the best herbs to grow in a vertical garden are the ones you want to eat and use. For instance, dill is a wonderful herb for a vertical for a vertical garden – but I don’t like it, so it’s not in my garden.

That said, the general rule of thumb is to use smaller plants with a minimal root system, since they weigh less and require less soil.

When Weight and Size Doesn’t Matter…

However, vertical planters can vary, as some rest on the ground and lean up against a wall. In this case, weight doesn’t matter as much. Another case might be if you were to use a larger container such as a pallet. This can give you more space, allowing you to grow larger plants.

Which Herbs Grow Well Together?

Something else to note before you plant is which plants will grow well together. Mint, for example, will grow like crazy and can take over other plants in your garden. Avoid this potential problem by planting invasive-type plants separately. You can easily do this with a vertical garden that has separate compartments, like a lightweight felt pocket planter.

Light and Water

Other considerations are sunlight and water. If the location of your vertical garden will receive more light at the top of the garden, plant your herbs accordingly. Plants that need more water are also likely to do better near the base of the planter, where they can receive extra run-off from the plants above.

Another reason why herbs make great vertical gardens? According to Herb Gardening from the Ground Up by Sal Gilbertie and Larry Sheehan, herbs like it dry, so you can water sparingly. Flowers and vegetables need about 3 times as much water as herbs. If in doubt, doubt, test the soil first to 6 inches deep. If it is dry, go ahead and water it.

Planting Annual Herbs

Some herbs, like basil, are annuals and will need to be replaced each year with a new plant.

Although it means buying a new plant or growing one from seed, this can be a great excuse to try new herbs each year or plant more of what grew best in your yard the year before.

Some Popular Herbs for Vertical Gardens:

  • Basil
  • Chives
  • Cilantro
  • Dill
  • Lavender
  • Lemon Balm
  • Marjoram
  • Mint
  • Oregano
  • Parsley
  • Rosemary
  • Sage
  • Stevia
  • Thyme