Creating a DIY vertical garden from household items

When you are short on space but oozing enthusiasm, creating a vertical garden is not only a super creative way to enjoy a world of greenery but is so very simple.

Use a range of household items, a pre-designed kit or scour the gardening section of Gumtree for heaps of inexpensive goodies to get you going.

Looking to turn a patio wall from boring to brilliant? Here’s how!

It all starts with a frame

Just as you would mark out the boundaries for a normal garden bed, you need to consider the shape and dimensions of your vertical garden. There are so many ways to create a framework within which your masterpiece will grow.

Picture frames: Have any old picture frames that you no longer need? Repurpose them with ease. Attach some chicken wire to the frame, add a backing board and fill with soil.
Ladder: An old wooden ladder placed against a wall makes for a perfect trellis and minimizes the need for any additional wall mounting requirements.
Old building materials: If you are feeling creative, why not gather a selection of pipes or metal rods and construct a frame, which can be attached to your wall and be used as a great basis to build upon.

What are suitable plants?

There really are no limitations to your plant selection when designing a vertical wall garden. You could choose a selection of herbs, grow vegetables, flowering greenery, vines or simply use succulents.

The only consideration is the weight of the soil and ensuring your frame can support any plants that needs to climb.

Not your ordinary pot

When it comes to your pot selection, this is your chance to be as unique as you can be.

Baskets: Lined with plastic, woven baskets become a fabulous alternative to a traditional pot and can be attached to a frame with a hook. (image: source pixabay.com)
Household items: Consider using old metal jugs and containers as planter pots too. You could even use a shoe caddy…now that’s creative!

Create unique art

Your vertical garden does not need to be completely covered in plants. Wall art is also very popular so dust off your creativity and paint a mural. If you have some old tiles lying around in the shed, consider using them to create a mosaic. (image: source pixabay.com)

Keeping plants fed and watered

Since your new vertical garden is not in the ground, you’ll need to pay extra attention to keeping them healthy. Regular watering and nutrients are essential.

You could consider repurposing kitchen scraps and making your own compost. Not only is this economical but a great way to reuse what may normally be thrown away.

Consider a DIY vertical garden for your home. It will definitely add a wow factor and help create a lovely piece of nature without taking up any space at all.

Have you ever created a vertical wall garden? Do you have any tips to share? Please leave in comments below.

Main image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

67 Comments

- - Ellen said
  - 17 Mar 2017
    7:45 am
Looks lovely ! A pity we rent our house and can’t drill in the wall.
In the Netherlands you see people also using the traditional wooden shoe as hanging pots, looks very nice.

- - rachel1970 said
  - 16 Mar 2017
    6:45 pm
How amazing do these look, perfect if you don’t have much space in your garden. Great for a patio or even a balcony if you live in a unit.

- - rovermum said
  - 16 Mar 2017
    5:11 pm
I just love the look of these and think I have the perfect spot for one. However, I kill of plants. I forget about them, don’t water them, they don’t survive. And my perfect spot, outside my office window, would ensure I saw it every day, but would mean I’d have to water it!!!

- - ella12 said
  - 11 Jan 2017
    12:16 pm
That looks really lovely, thanks for sharing.

- - Ellen said
  - 07 Jan 2017
    7:47 am
I would love to be able doing this, but with a rented house we’re not able to fix anything in the walls.

- - mom101628 said
  - 06 Jan 2017
    11:02 pm
When creating your vertical garden use perlite and vermiculite like hydroponic growers use. The vermiculite keeps the growing medium moist. Your watering system for your wall should be topped up with Thrive or similar and you will have the greatest results you can imagine.

- - coastalkaryn said
  - 06 Jan 2017
    9:30 pm
fabulous ideas, great article

- - Mummytoabeautifulprincess said
  - 05 Dec 2015
    11:22 pm
We have an acre but I wonder if hubby would allow me to do this. Looks amazing!!

- - mom81879 said
  - 30 Sep 2015
    7:52 am
Oh wow, I love that! It looks fantastic! We are lucky to have lots of room for gardens, so I don’t need this. But it looks so good, I might just make one for that reason

- - storm7 said
  - 03 Aug 2015
    6:48 pm
I have completed a vertical wall and used hanging baskets. It looks great and covers up our boring shed wall.

- - christial said
  - 29 Jun 2015
    8:46 pm
I really want to create a vertical garden. I just seem to kill everything! Even those things that are unkillable!
- cherz replied
  
  17 Mar 2017 , 1:59 pm
  Hi Christial,
  Try using air plants …these grow on, “well air” and a spritz of water at times.
  Please Google ..they are amazing and there are many lovely ones.
  Best of luck.
- - curlytops said
  - 19 Jun 2015
    11:40 am
This looks really great – I love it!

- - mom60450 said
  - 08 Jun 2015
    8:51 pm
I started a vertical garden a few months ago and its been up and down. One tip is to use really good quality potting mix and matching of plants that require same water levels so they survive better. Mine is close to the back door so I can keep an eye on nutrient needs each time I am outside. Works great for strawberry runners.

- - mom94888 said
  - 04 Jun 2015
    10:16 pm
Fantastic ideas, love it.

- - mom127676 said
  - 30 May 2015
    11:14 pm
Love the basket design for pot plants. Such a great idea.

- - mom118423 said
  - 29 May 2015
    10:39 pm
Brilliant, newly rendered gray wall here we come

- - sarahsampsonite said
  - 27 May 2015
    9:31 pm
That looks amazing! I’m going to show this to my husband and see if we can do something like it on the wall our deck is on, what a great way to freshen up a boring wall!

- - mom94888 said
  - 25 May 2015
    1:24 pm
What a great idea, I will be trying this

- - Mum of 5 darlings :) said
  - 28 Apr 2015
    11:00 pm
What a great idea. Especially when you don’t have a lot of space. You could make it to fit wherever you can

- - Cynthea Jenke said
  - 27 Apr 2015
    2:17 pm
I love these ideas
Ive got the perfect spot to hang my herb garden up.