Ever since the French Botanist Patrick Blanc came up with the idea of vertical gardening, this green concept has been attracting the eco-conscious architects, designers and home gardeners. A vertical garden (also referred to as living wall or green wall) is a wall, which is either freestanding or part of a building that is somewhat or completely covered with vegetation. Vertical gardens not only increase green space in urban environments, but also help transform walls from ordinary to extraordinary. This new ‘green’ trend is now catching up fast with the homeowners who are tight on space but still want beautiful flowers and plants to look at.
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The living wall trend grows
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Lack of private outdoor space in the cities leaves us helpless to contribute in gardening, and so Vertical gardening is the next emerging opportunities for the greenery lovers. The gardens, even in the limited space makes it way to let the greenery be relished by more and more people. Its gaining importance with its bright idea to grow the herbs, flowers and plants all within the limited space. The possibility to grow wide ranges of plants on the otherwise useless walls without much of effort and care makes it the much in demand. The other reason for its budding trend is that they offer considerable cost savings to the public and private sectors as well as helps in cooling the city.
Advantages of growing a vertical garden
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Vertical gardens are the best solution to maximize the use of limited space with great opportunities to experiment with different plants for both urban and suburban gardeners. It helps to hide something you just don’t like to see that too with something that is valuable. It lets you enhance the plant diversity in the smallest of areas. Other advantages of a a vertical garden includes...
• Provides sound insulation.
• Filters air particulates to improve air quality.
• Reduces the Heat Island Effect.
• Moderates a building’s internal temperature via external shading.
• Creates a microclimate, which will help to alter the climate of a city as a whole.
• Helps a building retain heat otherwise lost to convection.
• Provides storm water management, absorbing 45-75% of rainfall.
• Serves as a natural water filter and water temperature moderator.
How does it work?
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Vertical gardens works on hydroponics, without the need of soil. With some water and nutrients, you can simply grow plants like ivy or clematis up the wall. However, the new way is by integrating plants into walls and roofs, and adding structures, containers and supports to buildings to be used for planting. Basically, a vertical garden comprises three parts.
• The Metal Frame
• The PVC Layer
• The Felt
The frame positioned on a wall makes an air layer that doubles as an effective thermic and phonic isolation system. A thin PVC sheet fastened to the metal frame accounts for toughness and makes it waterproof. After doing the same, you have to fix the corrosion-resistant felt onto the PVC, which allows for equal water distribution. You also need to feed the plants with water 4-5 times in a day, along with some low concentrated nutrients.
Things you should take care of
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Vertical gardens take your garden to another level by transforming it into an artwork that breathes new life into your backyard, balcony or patio to a lively area. A vertical garden is a great prospect for any home gardener and so requires some care from the gardeners end. The first thing to be kept in mind is the location you choose. It should be such that it does not overshadow other plants. Vertical gardening needs care just like other plants, though not to that extent. They require water and less concentrated nutrients and optimum sunlight.
For the DIYers – Basics and Tips
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One of the basic requirements of the plants is water, but keeping up everyday with the water need gets difficult. So, to reduce frequent watering, use mulch at the base of the plants.
One should take care of the sun’s effect on these plants. If you grow plants on the side of a wall or side of your house be sure the sun doesn't reflect too much heat for that type of plant.
Another thing to be kept in mind is to train the plants, else the plants may spread in an unmanageable manner. You can also trim the plants if required without disturbing the root system.
The water requirement as compared to other plants is more in case of vertical gardening. In order to reduce moisture evaporation and retain water in the soil, mulching can be bought into use.
In Photos: Vertical Gardens
Few companies you can refer to for vertical gardens
1. Patrick Blanc Vertical Garden
2. Grow-Wall Vertical Gardening System
3. Wooly Pocket Garden Company
6. Greenwall
7. GreenDesign
8. Eco Walls
10. Green over Grey
Video Galore:
• Meet Patrick Blanc, the original vertical garden creator
• Vertical gardening made easy
• Garden Girl TV: Vertical Gardening Part-1
• Garden Girl TV: Vertical Gardening Part-2
