Some people like the idea of growing their own plants and vegetables – but unfortunately, they do not have the area necessary to do so. Placing the plants one next to the other will take a lot of ground surface – and before you know it, you’ll be out of space.
Enter the world of vertical gardens; there’s no rule saying that you cannot stash your plants one over another. Not only will it save space, but it will also be much prettier to look at. Plus, you can even use them for any space – even if you only have a small balcony.
In any case, having a small side-project to liven up the house can always turn out to be a great all-round family activity.
Here are some vertical garden solutions that you can try:
Old Drawer Garden
If you have an old drawer that you no longer use, you shouldn’t throw it away. Just take off the top – by unscrewing it or using a jigsaw – and then fill the drawers with soil where you can fit your plants. The taller the drawer, the better.
The idea here is to not open them completely – just gradually. For instance, since the top drawer already had the top part removed, you don’t need to pull the drawer open at all. The second one, however, will have to be slightly opened (for instance, halfway), and the one below a bit more. The bottom one can be opened completely; what’s most important is that your plants have enough space to shine and grow.
Shoe Organiser Garden
If you have a shoe organiser that you no longer use, then you might want to repurpose it and convert it into a vertical garden. Just attach it to your wall, fill it with soil and compost, and then plant your seeds or plants.
Make sure that the place you choose for it gets enough sunlight; otherwise, the plants might not grow. Make sure that they also get enough rain protection if your plants are susceptible to damage.
Galvanized Wires and Bucket Garden
If you have any chances of drawing galvanized wires, tie them one over another, with enough space between them to fit a bucket – or any other hanging pot that you might want to use.
Hang the buckets on the wires, and you are done. Even if you put those plants against a balcony wall, you will still get enough space to store a decent number of plants – without having to trip over them every time you want to take a breath of air.
Ladder Garden
This idea is similar to the one using galvanized wire – only instead of using wire, you will be using the steps of a ladder. The advantage is that once painted and dolled up, a ladder can be a great ornament in itself; if you add flowers on it, it will be even prettier.
The advantage is that ladders are generally secure – so even if there’s a strong wind going on, there’s a very low chance of it tipping over. A medium-sized ladder that is smaller than a door can easily fit up to 10 pots of plants.
Hanging Gutter Garden
Now, let’s say that you don’t have a large garden, and you can barely spare the space – but you did just change your gutter. Instead of throwing it away, simply give it a paint job, cap the edges so that the soil doesn’t slip out and place it over another one using a steel cable.
How high or long it will be, that will depend on your preferences – as well as your garden space. You can hang three gutter parts one over the other – or you may hang five.
If you don’t have the gutter, you may also look for it at any online home and garden store, where they can even get it cut for you. Bear in mind that this option is mostly good for plants with smaller roots that do not need plenty of growing space.
Old Pallet Garden
Do you have a pallet that you no longer use? If you want to save on space, simply take the pallet, get some hose clamps that are large enough to fit some terra-cotta pots, and attach them to the pallet.
Depending on the size of your pallet, you may attach as many pots as you want. Usually, regardless of its size, it will still fit perfectly in almost any space.
It’s up to you if you decorate the pallet or not. However, if you leave the wooden aspect, it will offer a vintage, classier look. Perhaps you might only want to add a protective transparent layer over the wood, to shield it from decay.
Vertical Garden Tower
If you have a small garden, this will surely fit perfectly. All you will need is a wood frame that may go as tall as you want, mesh inserts and steel strips to hold the compost together.
The plants will go on the sides of the tower. On the top, you will place a metal basin that will catch rainwater to irrigate the plants.
Soda Bottle Garden
If you’ve been throwing away all your soda bottles, you might want to stop doing that. Lay down a bottle, cut an opening on the sides that leaves enough space for the plants to grow and plant your seeds. After that, attach the bottle to a wall or a fence. It depends on the size of your wall, but usually, this method offers you plenty of gardening space.
Cinder Blocks Garden
The beauty of cinder blocks is that you can toggle and place them however you want. This way, they are perfect for small yards, and they will also offer you privacy (you may use them as a fence). Simply create your own planting areas (like you’d be playing with building blocks) and secure them with liquid glue. The result will certainly be something unique.
Final Thoughts
The idea with most DIY projects is that you have to be creative. While the result may not always be identical to the one you saw, it will still be unique and mirror your personality. Just keep on rockin’!
