Vertical Garden Guide: 6 Vertical Garden Ideas

A vertical garden is a system for vertically growing plants via structural support rather than horizontally in a plot of land. In a vertical garden, you can grow plants upwards along existing structures like walls, arbors, or pergolas, or install structures like trellises or poles for support. Vertical gardening keeps your plants off the ground as opposed to a traditional, horizontal gardening method, making these plants less susceptible to pest infestation and root rot. Many types of plants—from pole beans, to melons, to veggies like tomatoes and zucchini—can benefit from a vertical setup.

Here is an overview of three benefits to vertical gardening.

1. 1. It saves space. Vertical gardens are designed to run up and down, which allows you to plant more crops with less ground space. It’s ideal for urban farming or small gardens where ground space might be limited or for gardens that are already crowded.
2. 2. It’s good for your plants. Growing your crops vertically exposes them to more sunlight and air circulation, potentially increasing their yield and reducing their susceptibility to fungal infections, pests, and other diseases. Also, the vertical setup is better for drainage.
3. 3. It’s easy to maintain. Vertical gardens allow you to plant plenty of crops without spending hours bent over in the hot sun. A vegetable garden lined along a wall may be much easier to water, prune, and harvest than in a flat or even raised garden bed.

There are a variety of different DIY vertical gardens you can install in your own outdoor area. Here is a series of design ideas for making your own unique vertical garden.

1. 1. Living walls: You can plant greenery directly into an ordinary wall—that is prepared properly—to make it a garden bed. Use wire mesh or wall pockets to hang your plants along the surface of the wall space, or attach a ventilating layer of plastic sheeting or landscape fabric to the wall with your plants on top of it. Depending on the wall material, you may be able to drill wall planters directly into the surface.
2. 2. Wall trellis: Attach a gridded trellis to any outdoor wall to make a vertical wall garden for vining plants like tomatoes, ivy, and more.
3. 3. Window boxes: These wall-mounted planter boxes which sit right beneath your windowsill or balcony provide a simple way to suspend your garden planters and small plants above the ground. Window boxes are great for seasonal flowers, succulents, and trailing plants, and provide easy access for watering and care. Herb gardens also do well in window boxes.
   
4. 4. Tiered hanging gardens: Hanging planters with multiple tiers allows you to plant more types of vegetation in a small space. For determinate bush-type tomatoes, hanging baskets are a good choice since they allow the tomato plant trail over the side of the pot. Additionally, you can use upside-down planters as another way to make use of vertical space.
5. 5. Arches or awnings: If your garden space is larger and contains archways, arbors, or pergolas, you can use these structures to hang your vertical planters or support vining plants that need extra support, like grapes or melons.
6. 6. Freestanding setups: Standalone setups like cages, trellises, teepee poles, and obelisks can be placed in your horizontal garden to provide existing plants a means of climbing support.

With the right tools and supplies, a vertical garden can be a fun and easy DIY project that complements your outdoor space. Here are some tips for maintaining your vertical garden.

1. 1. Choose the right plants. Not every kind of plant will thrive in a vertical garden, or the ones you imaged in your design may not be in season. Make sure whichever plants you choose are right for the season to ensure longevity.
2. 2. Make sure your containers are well-draining. Whether you’re creating a hanging container garden or filling up window boxes with plants, your vertical planters should have adequate drainage holes to prevent a buildup of mildew and fungus.
3. 3. Choose the right location. You may have the perfect space to build your green wall, but if it never sees the sun, your plants won’t be able to survive. Unless your vertical system is moveable, choose a location that will get adequate sunlight.
4. 4. Water your plants regularly. Unless you have an automated irrigation system, you’ll need to remember to water your plants. Due to the increased air circulation and sun exposure, plants may need to be watered more frequently.
5. 5. Check for pests and disease. Though vertical gardens are less susceptible to pests and disease, they can still pose a threat to certain crops if left unattended. Periodically check your leaves, flowers, and soil for any signs of malnourishment or infection. If you’d rather not use soil, you can grow your plants through a hydroponic system.

Grow your own garden with Ron Finley, the self-described "Gangster Gardener." Get the MasterClass Annual Membership and learn how to cultivate fresh herbs and vegetables, keep your house plants alive, and use compost to make your community—and the world—a better place.