Making a vertical garden is a great way to enhance your home. But its function is not limited to that, vertical gardens also have an important role in maintaining air quality on a local scale.

Vertical gardens can improve the appearance of small-scale houses with limited space. It is flexible because it can be placed in any space, even be used as a room partition.

Because it is quite easy to make, anyone can do it. Especially for beginners, it's best to start simple, don't focus on creating a busy vertical garden.

Tips for Making Vertical Gardens

To avoid gardening mistakes, it would be better if you have a clear idea about the vertical garden. Considerations include the type of plant, the structure, and its care.

1. Plant Type

Before buying various tools to create a vertical garden, think first about the types of plants. In short, choose either vegetables or flowers!

The plant affects the structure. Vines need a taller structure, while tubers need a container to grow. The arched structure may look amazing, but the results will not be optimal if you don't have vines to cover the structure.

Similarly, if you have a large space, a vertical garden will not be useful because there are many gaps. So, first of all, make sure to learn about the plants you want to grow then plan a structure that can accommodate those specific types of plants.

2. Placement

When planning a vertical garden, choose a suitable place to avoid problems in the future. For example, a tall structure placed in the west or east can shade the light so it doesn't enter the house directly.

Placement is an important consideration especially for hanging vertical gardens. The most important aspect is the exposure. Some types of plants require more sunlight, while other types do not.

So, make sure to choose the ideal space when you want to build a vertical garden. That way, the plant can get enough sunlight to support its growth.

3. Design

Also, important to plan is the design, including its layout for the landscape. There should be harmony in design and space. Vertical gardens must have function, also must be a decorative element that is eye pleasing.

For more casual and informal home design, the square box structure may not be suitable. On the other hand, rustic or industrial house designs are not suitable for structures made of bamboo. It might even look weird because it doesn't match.

Make sure the vertical garden design is in accordance with the spatial concept that will be occupied. That’s way, the house appearance will improve, instead of being an eyesore by being misplaced.

4. Scale and Proportion

In accordance with the availability of existing space, the size of a vertical garden must not interfere with the flow of the room, which makes the limited space even more limited.

Planting plants with high characteristics in a limited area will narrow the room, while hanging one or two pots in a large area makes it look disproportionate. Besides the space, the proportion of structures with plant sizes must be balanced.

That's why it's important to understand the plant size at peak growth. Choosing a large plant in a small structure does not end well because the structure will not be able to accommodate it when the plant reaches its maximum size.

5. Permanent or Temporary

When making plans, consider how the space can accommodate the idea, whether for short term or long term. The portable structure provides more flexibility as the vertical garden can be moved as needed.

On the other hand, permanent structures are stronger in the long run but are not something that can be easily moved. Especially for seasonal plants, choosing a portable structure is recommended because it can be moved to avoid certain conditions like rainy season or dry season.

6. Strength

Another important aspect is strength. As the vines reach their peak, the plants become heavier, even for fruitful plants. Don't let the plant structure fall down because it can't support the load of the plant.

Be sure to choose the structure that is strong enough to withstand the weight of the plant when it reaches maturity. Especially for hanging gardens, the structure must be strong enough to withstand the load of mature plants and their irrigation.

7. Harvest Time

Harvesting is easier to do in vertical gardens. Though, using the wrong design can make harvesting more difficult. Besides making harvesting difficult, the complex structure makes fruit unable to grow optimally because the space is limited.

Likewise with tall structures, crop yields are more difficult to pick. Ladders may help, but this is not a practical step if you want to harvest in every day basis.

8. Care

Certain types of plants need different care, and this should be a consideration. Watering and fertilizing must be done periodically, that means you have to dedicate some time to care.

If you don't have much time, consider choosing a type of plant that doesn't need intensive care. Fruits generally don’t, and this can be a choice for beginners who want to create a vertical garden. Choose plants that are easy for planting and harvesting.