Vertical Garden: A Beautiful Garden Solution for Any Space After research on natural vertical locations, growing plants on a vertical surface is now fully possible for homeowners and other property developers. This technique, known as vertical gardening, uses plants that adapt to conditions on the surface, functioning and growing properly without the use of soil. Commonly known as living green walls, vertical gardens use different sources for plants to grow upward instead of on the actual vertical surface. In some cases, no support is necessary, as the plant naturally grows upward. Certain plants, however, require trellises, cages, or stakes to grow vertically. Growing a Vertical Garden This type of garden can be grown in almost any location. Places or areas never thought of as a possible habitat for plants, or places where horizontal space is lacking qualify as vertical garden locations. The plants in a vertical garden act as natural air filters and eliminate airborne toxins such as formaldehyde and benzene, while releasing clean oxygen. Apart from improving air quality, vertical gardens also provide a heat sink, which is helpful in hot climates.
Two-in-One Function While vertical gardens are commonly used for aesthetic and decorative purposes, some landscape experts implement food crops in the garden. Productive vertical gardens make use of wire cylinders to support and grow certain vegetables. The cylinder helps plant vines to wrap around the wires. A vertical garden can also be integrated into an interior environment, as the supporting structure adapts to any geometry. Homeowners can use artificial light to help the plants grow and bring out the colours of and textures of leaves and flowers.
Expert Skills Required While there are tons of ideas on creating vertical gardens, there really is no assurance of great results each time. According to an article in The Christian and Science Monitor, without proper understanding of the vertical garden system, cultural requirements, and plant species choices, the result can be appalling.
Just like a normal garden, living green walls also need maintenance. The requirements depend on the garden’s size and location, and the plants grown. It is best to consult reliable landscape experts for help on building and maintaining vertical gardens.
Resources: http://oakleighmanor.com/ http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Gardening/diggin-it/2011/1116/Vertical-gardens-The-goodthe-bad-the-ugly http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-vertical-gardening.htm