“Vertical gardening 101”
Vertical Gardening by Hommy.com
A vertical garden is exactly what it sounds like, a garden that reaches towards the sky. More specifically, vertical gardening is defined by Ambius as, “a technique used to grow plants on a vertically suspended panel by using hydroponics.” For those of us who do not know what hydroponics are, it is a simple method of growing plants without soil. This method uses mineral rich solutions in an aqueous (water) solvent.
Hydroponics Systems by Hobby Jump.
So why vertical gardening? In my own personal opinion, vertical gardening looks more organized and to put simply, prettier. But looks is not all that we are here for, vertical gardening also helps open up space for more plants in a smaller area. Potted plants are definitely easier to move around and place anywhere you want them to, but they require extra maintenance. Vertical gardens only have a singular large panel (depending on how many panels you actually have, there could be more) to take care of. Here are a few different types of vertical gardens that could be of interest in a more urban setting:
- Green walls
- Indoor vertical gardens
- Exterior vertical gardens
- Vertical gardening systems
- Vertical succulent gardens
Green Wall by Livingroofs.org
Indoor Vertical Garden by Pinterest
Exterior Vertical Garden by Delectable Garden
Vertical Gardening System by Pinterest
Vertical Succulent Garden by Pinterest
These are just a few ideas of what you can do with a vertical garden, whether you feel like decorating your office up with some beautiful flowers on the wall, or growing your plants along your fence or house. I have put together a few reasons why I believe we should all invest in more vertical gardens: not only does vertical gardening improve the overall building visuals, it also improves employee energy levels. Studies have shown that over half a century, there has been an increase in urban-living seekers meaning a very large increase in air pollution and lack of green areas. These beautiful green walls are an amazing way of adding color and greenery back to the cities with boost employee morale. Vertical gardening also improves the air quality in the cities. These living green walls are natural air-filters! Thankfully plants metabolize harmful toxins (such as carbon monoxide, VOCs, benzene, and formaldehyde) and put the oxygen we need back in the air.
Vertical gardening can also reduce energy costs. Through a process called evapotranspiration, interior and exterior living green walls can cool the air on hot days (which in Austin, Texas seems to be a pretty great idea to me). And even during the cooler months of the year, they add a level of insulation to keep buildings warmer. To even go along with the “extra insulation” these green walls can reduce the noise levels. Plants naturally block high and low frequency sounds!
Green Wall by Watex Green Living
How is Vertical Gardening Sustainable?
Vertical gardening has many advantages when it comes to sustainability. They save a lot of space, very useful in small gardens, you can grow more food then you normally would be able to. They actually keep diseases low because the plants are not spread out along the damp soil. They even help shade other crops, and prevent specific pests that aren’t vertical climbers. A few tools you can use for these gardens are stakes, fence trellises, teepee trellises, a cage, and a-fences, which are less expensive than buying pots for your plants. Now all of these methods use soil, unlike the green walls that use hydroponics, but is still more practical then potting your plants.
My Personal Experience with Vertical Gardening.
I actually have two smaller gardens in my backyard at home. We grow pretty much anything you can think of, carrots, strawberries, cucumbers, pumpkins, a million different spices, peppers, lettuce, etc. The first year we tried to grow cucumbers, we didn’t grow them vertically, and all the vines grew all over the garden and got into the strawberries and it was a mess. The next year we tried growing them up a little fence that we built ourselves, and it worked amazing. It kept the cucumbers in place and it grew very well, we were able to even grow some onions due to the new space provided. We also put cages around our tomato plants to help them grow upwards instead of sideways and it also helps keep them from overgrowing and focusing more on growing tomatoes.
Small simple vertical garden by Real Simple
Concluding Thoughts:
I believe that all businesses, especially those in highly populated cities to start investing in vertical gardening. It will bring up the morale of everyone around and it looks absolutely beautiful. I myself will even start doing more vertical gardening whenever and wherever I can.
Resources:
Rentokil, Initial plc. “What Are Vertical Gardens?” Ambius, 2020, http://www.ambius.com/green-walls/what-are-vertical-gardens/.
Verticalroots. “What Is Hydroponic Farming? Why Use Hydroponics?” Vertical Roots, 10 Mar. 2020, http://www.verticalroots.com/the-what-and-why-of-hydroponic-farming/ .
GEFF Staff. “JOIN GEF NOW!” Vertical Gardening – Green Education Foundation | GEF | Sustainability Education, 2018, http://www.greeneducationfoundation.org/greenthumbchallengesub/start-up-kit/get-set-build-your-garden/1087-vertical-gardening.html.
Blog post by: Sarah Evans