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Vertical Gardens Raise the Limits for Landscapes
Turn a small garden space into a towering success with an upward-bound collection of edible delights
Houzz Contributor. I'm a California-based writer and editor. While most of my projects are garden-based, you might also find be writing about home projects and classical music. Away from the computer, I'm found in the garden (naturally), on my bike, or ice-skating outdoors (yes, that is possible in California). I'm also willing to taste-test anything that's chocolate.
Houzz Contributor. I'm a California-based writer and editor. While most... More »
Fresh-picked vegetables and fruit can't be beat. But you may not have room for a traditional vegetable garden layout, and fruit trees can leave no room, or sunlight, for any other plants. The answer is to use every inch of space possible, and that means growing up or along walls as well as across your garden floor.
Even in a large yard, a flat vegetable garden can be boring to look at. Espaliering a tree on a fence or using cherry tomatoes to cover an arbor adds visual variety to your space. It also allows you to grow your edibles throughout your landscape, wherever they will do their best and contribute to your garden's overall beauty.
When planning your garden, keep in mind that placing plants against a wall means they will receive reflected heat as well as direct sunlight. While most vegetables and fruits will welcome that, be careful with some of the cool-weather plants, such as peas. While they will probably do well against a north- or east-facing wall, a southern or western exposure might be too hot for them.
Even in a large yard, a flat vegetable garden can be boring to look at. Espaliering a tree on a fence or using cherry tomatoes to cover an arbor adds visual variety to your space. It also allows you to grow your edibles throughout your landscape, wherever they will do their best and contribute to your garden's overall beauty.
When planning your garden, keep in mind that placing plants against a wall means they will receive reflected heat as well as direct sunlight. While most vegetables and fruits will welcome that, be careful with some of the cool-weather plants, such as peas. While they will probably do well against a north- or east-facing wall, a southern or western exposure might be too hot for them.
| A traditional approach that's always appealing: grapes growing over an arbor with seating underneath. Imagine sitting in the shade on a warm day and simply reaching up to pick a handful of ripe grapes. Or better yet, sipping wine; it's certainly an appropriate use of the space. Just be sure to choose a surface beneath the arbor that fallen grapes won't permanently stain. Put out the chairs, open the wine and you're set. Caution: Grapes can be poisonous to pets, so keep the two apart. |
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by Andrew Renn
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| A surprising number of fruit trees can be espaliered. Apples are most commonly treated this way, but the technique works for peaches, nectarines, pears, plums and even cherries. It's more work than standard pruning, but you'll kill two birds with one stone: softening the surface of a long, unbroken wall and making the fruit incredibly easy to pick. |
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The espaliered fruit tree on this trellis is more vertical than horizontal, giving it a slightly different look than the previous espalier. A trellis like this will work equally well to support berries or beans. If it's sturdy enough, consider using it to encourage smaller squashes, cucumbers and eggplants to grow up rather than sprawl outward. You'll protect the crop from insects in the soil, not to mention marauding pets and children. You'll also have a living privacy fence during the growing season.
by Milieu Design
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Grapes may be traditional for over arbors, but think outside the vine culture. Hops, that standard ingredient for beer, can work just as well, if not better, to cover an arbor or pergola or to train along a fence. You can even train hops, with support, as a small tree. They're vigorous climbers — great for quick coverage, but you will have to cut them back to keep them under control. The light-green leaves are large and decorative, and the flowers on the female plant are also green and cone-shape with some fragrance.
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| This contrast of a solid gate with open fencing on either side is appealing and somewhat unusual, providing a sense of enclosure that's not too overbearing. Though perennial vines would be the traditional choice, consider using beans, peas or tomatoes for a seasonal screening effect. You can always grab a quick bite as you go by. |
Bright yellow trellises flanking a shed door at the end of a vegetable bed are a nice accent for this small vegetable garden, providing support while adding a burst of color to the space. You can find plant supports to buy in all sorts of colors, but you can also paint the traditional wood ones (and change the color to match your gardening mood every year).
Tip: If you're growing berries near a walkway or door, look for thornless berries.
Tip: If you're growing berries near a walkway or door, look for thornless berries.
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by Rough Linen
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| A narrow side yard with no space for plants on the ground can become a productive garden area with the addition of an overhead structure. The design creates a shaded pathway and screening for people passing beneath, while the plants can take full advantage of available sun. It also helps separate and define the space from other parts of the landscape. In winter the open structure, free from plants, will allow much-needed light into the space. See more of this house |
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A living wall is a great approach to vertical gardening. Fill planters with herbs or let smaller tomatoes (those bred to grow in containers or on patios) spill out from them.
Container-grown plants usually need more watering than those in the ground, so plan accordingly with water reservoirs or drip irrigation.
Container-grown plants usually need more watering than those in the ground, so plan accordingly with water reservoirs or drip irrigation.
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Vining plants as well as espaliered trees need supports. There are the classic pyramids, tuteurs and trellises, but manufacturers these days are creating more unusual designs for almost any garden style. These trellises here are a modern take on a tradition trellis, with the added advantage that you can buy ones that are 8 feet tall — a size that will make the plants growing up them certainly stand out.
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Here's a slightly unusual take on the classic trellis. The design and the light green color make it a delightful garden accent by itself.
by Plow & Hearth
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Talk about doing double duty. This trellis has a support for vines as well as bells to provide garden music when the wind blows.
by TerraTrellis
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These are not your grandmother's garden supports. There may be some traditional pyramid-style supports, but round, square, oblong and hourglass are certainly unusual. Add to them colors that are bright, vibrant and certainly not something that will blend in. No matter what your garden style, these would be an eye-catching addition.
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This trellis, with its spare yet twiglike look, would work equally well in a modern landscape and a traditional or cottage garden.
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Picture this for a small wall, especially in a contemporary or urban setting. Herbs would work really well in this planter; their green and gray-green colors would soften the look without being too frilly.
by Pottery Barn
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Lights, action, vegetables. Adding lights to any trellis is a great way to highlight your garden at night.
More:
11 Inspiring Vertical Gardens
More:
11 Inspiring Vertical Gardens
Ideabook published on April 12, 2012.
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so beautiful and ispiring
thank you a lot!!!
If you want to see a fabulous vertical wall for indoor or outdoor use check out www.dirtt.com and the "breathe living wall". These are absolutely stunning, work very well and are available in Canada and the US and come as small as about 15" wide.
Johanna