Maximise Space With Vertical Gardening

Small outdoor spaces don’t have to limit your gardening dreams. In fact, you can think of a small garden as an opportunity to get creative! Vertical gardening is just one of the ways you can transform walls, fences, and even the smallest patios into lush green spaces. By growing plants upward instead of outward, you’ll use every centimetre of available space. Here’s how you can maximise a tiny space with vertical gardening ideas. 

Add a Trellis to Your Space 

Trellises are key to any vertical garden. They provide sturdy support for climbing plants while creating beautiful ‘living’ walls of morning glories and other vining plants. What’s more, trellises are versatile and work for more than just flowers. If you fancy a vertical vegetable garden, choose tomatoes, cucumbers, and beans. Keep in mind that vegetables need several hours of sunlight each day, so make sure your trellis is well out of the shade. For locations with less natural light, we recommend shade-tolerant climbers like ivy or ferns. 

Create Living Art With Wall Planters

Wall shelving works well for small spaces that lack storage—why not apply the same principle to your space-saving garden design? Wall planters allow you to transform blank walls into vibrant, green displays. These containers are especially useful for herbs, succulents, and flowers that don’t require deep soil. Strawberries are also perfect for wall displays, and you’ll be able to look forward to a sweet snack when your plant is in bloom! Should you choose a wall planter, don’t forget about drainage. Make sure each planter has plenty of drainage holes, and consider putting a drip tray below the unit for excess water. 

Add Dimension With Hanging Baskets

You’ve used the walls, but what about the ceiling? Hanging baskets utilise overhead space as well as create layers of visual interest throughout your garden. These elevated planters work particularly well for trailing plants like petunias, lobelia, and tomatoes. We suggest placing them where you can easily reach them for watering—usually around eye level. As you design your vertical garden for small spaces, be sure to consider the weight of each plant. The last thing you want is your plant to come crashing down, so always use sturdy brackets or hooks. 

Maintenance Tips for Vertical Gardens

Once you finish your DIY vertical garden, the work isn’t done. You’ll have to keep up with maintenance to ensure everything stays lush and flowering. Here are a few vertical planting tips to make your life a bit easier: 

• Use Drip Irrigation—If you have a larger installation, use a drip irrigation system to make sure your plants get consistent moisture.
• Water Regularly—Smaller vertical gardens should be watered early in the morning or in the evening to minimise losses from evaporation.
• Don’t Forget Fertiliser—Plants off the ground can’t access ground nutrients, so use a slow-release fertiliser every two weeks during the growing season to keep everything healthy. 

Creating Your Vertical Garden Paradise

You can still have a stunning garden in Scotland, even if you’re tight on space. At North Hill Gardens, we can help you choose the best plants and layouts for your needs. It all starts with just one or two trellises—contact us today to begin your project.