It’s been a few thousand years since the Hanging Gardens of Babylon drew tourists from all across Asia Minor to view its wonders, and only recently has this unique form of gardening come back into style! Vertical gardening is basically a wall made of plants, and is currently one of the trendiest developments among plant lovers, despite the concept being one of the world’s oldest techniques, which anyone who has trellised a vine or grown a bean pole can attest to!
The art and science of vertical gardening allows the gardener to draw attention to a space or hide an unattractive element from view. Office buildings are one of the technique’s biggest proponents with vertical gardens in Sydney sprouting up all over the city, and I do mean up! These lovely walls of living greenery provide a calming effect for harried office workers, and are becoming so popular and prevalent that one might feel that they have left town and are wandering around in the forest primeval!
Vertical gardens can be placed on trellises, around tree trunks and architectural columns, or hung from ceilings to create rich green spaces in the urban environment that there wouldn’t be room for otherwise. You can use living curtains of vine to create a fun entryway instead of a door or to cover a barren wall. Small pots attached to trellises can be the home of a wide variety of fragrant flowers, bringing the vibrant colours and heady perfume of an outdoor garden to an otherwise drab waiting room or office space.
The technique isn’t just for businesses, people who live in apartments with limited available space are setting up vertical gardens to not only brighten up their interior but to provide added oxygen and humidity to foster a much healthier living environment. These living walls also filter out harmful pollutants and dust in the air which allows the occupant to breathe easier as well as enjoy the comforting scent of live growth- you will feel like you are living inside a terrarium built for you!
There are some things you should take into account when erecting your indoor vertical garden:
- Anchoring – It is essential that your structure be strong enough to support the weight of your plants and that it be firmly anchored to the wall or some other solid object to avoid your becoming the victim of an unexpected green avalanche!
- Light And Shadows – Be aware that structures and taller plants can cast shadows that might affect the growth patterns of the plants, so make sure the area is sufficiently lighted.
- Get Attached – Some plants such as morning glories are naturally adapted to a vertical environment and will attach themselves naturally to the trellis, but others like climbing roses will need to be attached manually.
- Food And Water – Vertical garden plants may require extra fertilization and watering because of their greater exposure to air currents.
The Australian Government has created a training program on the subject for agricultural and environmental applications. We hope this inspires you or your business to set up a vertical garden for your health and enjoyment, it’s popularity continues to rise!
