Helpful information
Timing: All year around
Where to do it: Outdoors
Garden space: Small garden, balcony, no garden
Gardening vertically allows you to enjoy growing plants even in the smallest spaces. We look at ideas from outdoor wall gardens to vertical veg.
- Vertical gardening allows you to enjoy the wellbeing benefits of nature even if you have no traditional garden space
- Growing upwards allows you to think creatively about how you would like to use your space
- The satisfaction of transforming a bare wall or small space into a thriving growing area
A flower pot hanging from a trellis wall
In a traditional garden, plants grow side by side in the ground or in planters. But, this isn't the only way to grow. There are plenty of ways we can make use of walls, fences and any other vertical space to grow plants.
Vertical gardening is particularly brilliant if you have a small garden, balcony garden or even no garden at all. Some people may find it easier to do, compared to bending down to the ground.
You can create a vertical garden indoors, as a way to display houseplants and herbs for example. This article is about outdoor vertical gardening.
Some vertical garden ideas involve a bit of DIY to get your wall space ready. Others involve choosing plants that naturally grow upwards. Here we share a few ideas to get you started.
A climbing rose up a wall
Climbing plants are a great way to make the most of vertical space. The plants will be doing what they do best – growing upwards!
Some popular climbing plants include:
- Jasmine
- Honeysuckle
- Clematis
- Climbing rose
Climbing plants can be grown against walls, fences and trellises. You will probably need to support the plant as it grows. This could be, for example, by adding wire or string to the space the climber is growing against.
Read more in our guide to climbing plants.
Make it easier
Some climbing plants are good at supporting themselves. Climbing hydrangeas, for example, usually cling to the wall as they climb. This saves you having to stretch to tie the plant in place. You may want to avoid plants like wisteria that can grow extremely big and need a lot of pruning.
A cucumber hanging from the plant
A vertical garden can be productive as well as looking great. Several fruit and vegetable plants naturally grow upwards, including:
- Cucumbers
- Tomatoes (cordon type varieties)
- Peas
- Beans
- Grapes
- Cucamelon
Some other plants can be ‘trained’ to grow upwards with a little patience. These include squash and courgettes.
Make it easier
Some vertical growing food plants – grape vines especially – can get very big and tall. If you have any difficulties with mobility or energy, choose smaller plants like dwarf beans and peas.
A hanging basket bursting with summer flowers
Growing in hanging baskets is a very popular way to make use of outside walls.
You may need to fix your hanging basket to your wall when you start out. Then, you can enjoy filling it with flowers or food produce all year around.
Read our guide to summer hanging baskets for ideas for a seasonal selection bursting with flowers.
You can purchase a wide range of vertical garden kits online or from garden centres and DIY shops. These range from wire frames with hanging pots to small fabric planters with pockets or large, self-watering troughs.
Vertical garden kits can be a simple and good value way to get going with your wall garden.
A painted upcycled pallet used to hold plants
If you would like a DIY project as part of your vertical garden creation, here are a few ideas.
1. Pallet wall planter
You could attach a wooden pallet to your wall or fence. Make sure it is securely attached. You can either pop small plant pots in each ‘shelf’ area. Or, add soil and plants directly to the planter. Make sure there is good drainage.
Make it easier
Attaching a pallet to a wall can be quite a physical task, requiring correct tools and fittings. It might be a good idea to ask for help from a friend, family member or neighbour if you're going to do this.
Rows of recycled plastic bottles used as planters
2. Recycled plastic bottle wall
Another project that makes use of old materials is a planting wall using recycled plastic bottles. Choose large bottles and turn them on their side. Cut a hole in the length, fill with soil and you have yourself a home for all manner of plants.
The bottles will need to be hung so they stay against the wall. Again, this is a project for DIY enthusiasts.
A painted tyre used as a wall planter
A wide range of plants can be part of a vertical garden.
If you are growing climbing plants or veg, make sure you choose varieties that grow upwards (see above). Read the plant label or ask for advice at the garden centre.
Hanging baskets also suit a wide range of plants, from marigolds and geraniums to tumbling tomatoes and strawberries.
If you are growing in small pots on the wall, herbs are a popular choice. They give the added benefit of lovely scent plus flavour for your home cooking.
Succulents are also popular for vertical gardens. These low maintenance plants can cope with very little water. This makes them a good choice if you have any challenges with mobility, or want an easy care garden.
Whatever plants you choose, make sure they are right for the place they are growing and the amount of sunlight it gets.
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Planting summer hanging baskets
Summer hanging baskets are a wonderful addition to any outdoor space. In this guide we look at some plants to try and how to arrange them.
