Vertical Gardening: Container Gardening Perfect for a Patio and Balcony Gardens

Vertical gardening just might be the answer you’re looking for if you’re like many people where space is a commodity that is hard to come by. This style of gardening enables you to make the most of what little space you do have; space that would probably not work for anything else but a garden. You get to use many of those found objects around your house or neighborhood that normally end up an eyesore or find their way into your trash.

Four Basic Types of Vertical Gardens

When it comes to vertical container gardening you’re only limited by your imagination. If you can dream it you can build it and garden in it. Here are 4 basic ideas you can use when you have limited space and cannot grow a traditional garden.

1. Pockets: These are made from breathable material like felt that is recyclable and are sold individually or in rows of 3 to 5. They last years and can attach to walls easily with screws. Each pocket holds up to 20 pounds of soil and is great for planting most annuals, and small edible perennials. Great for the side of a barn or even your garage or house. To water use a hose if not too high up or install an automatic gravity irrigation system.

2. Trays: These are like nursery flats and are rectangular and divided into planting cells slanted at a 30 degree angle. Each tray comes with a bracket for mounting and you can add a wood frame and make it a work of art. They are best for plants with shallow root systems like succulents, small annuals, and perennials or edibles like lettuce.

3. Pot Hangers: These are polypropylene supports that clamp onto the back of pots and when screwed into a wall or a fence they completely disappear. They can endure high winds and can hold up to 100 pounds each. As far as what goes in these, pretty much anything you would normally plant in a pot.

4. Found Objects: If you’re a creative type you’ll love found object gardening. You can use things like old gutters or other similar drainage systems, burlap bags, or even shutters with wide slats. You’d be surprised just how many things you have around the house that can double as a vertical form of gardening.

Benefits of Vertical Gardening

This form of gardening is great for those with not a lot of space to spare. Here are some benefits of this type of gardening. Rather than growing plants out you’re reducing your footprint by growing up.

• Less soil preparation and digging.
• More types of plants in less space.
• Less weeding needed.
• Less maintenance
• Space saving and stacking.
• Easier on the body when you don’t have to spend hours bending over.
• Improved air circulation and lower risk of plant diseases and pests.
• Much larger yields in a compact space.
• Much easier to harvest.

Saves Time and Energy

People tend to overdo it when it comes to traditional gardening. It’s easy to plow a big space, plant it and water it initially but soon the work involved over takes you. Suddenly you’re spending all those hot summer days slaving over a huge garden plot and it can be backbreaking work. It’s just too easy to over extend yourself. 

With vertical gardening you can plant everything eye level to eliminate all that backbreaking labor you end up doing with traditional gardens. With a vertical garden you’re using small spaces in areas that are convenient for you and you spend less time spending your summer days doing the chores you don’t like; weeding, watering, and debugging, before you even get close to harvesting. 

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