Vertical Gardens

What Is a Planted Wall?

A Planted wall is also known as ecowall, living wall, green wall, a garden screen or vertical garden. A planted wall is a structure intentionally covered by vegetation. It’s based on vertically applied growth medium—typically various kinds of soil or a substitute substrate; and covered by greenery, integrated hydration and fertigation delivery system; unless it’s an artificial green wall. These panels of plants can be attached to existing walls or free-standing. 

Benefits of Vertical Gardens

Roof gardens and living walls greatly enhance the building's visual and sustainability values.

Green walls present a great way to cool the air during the hot summer months through a process known as “evapotranspiration.” During the winter, living walls ensure additional building insulation, reducing energy costs. They affect air pollution, improve air quality, and compensate for the loss of green space in the cities, up to a point.

Vertical planters make a visual statement that is attractive and good for mental health. In corporate environments, lush greenery provides the soothing, invigorating, and motivational effect, increasing overall job satisfaction.

Living green walls can even reduce noise levels in buildings, which is particularly convenient in proximity to roads and highways. Vegetation has the natural ability to block high-frequency sounds, while the supporting structure can decrease low-frequency noise. As a whole, they work to reduce noise levels by reflecting, refracting, and absorbing acoustic energy.

Types of Green Walls

• Panel Systems

Sage and Prowall represent popular examples of living wall panel systems. This type features plants pre-grown into the panels. It’s suitable for use both indoors and outdoors, regardless of climate conditions. 

• VersaWall 

A tray system, such as VersaWall, is a typical solution for indoor planted walls. Similar to panel systems, plants are pre-grown off-site and incorporated into the wall, offering broad design versatility.

• Freestanding Walls

Freestanding walls are the most portable option of all, easiest to replace, adapt, or relocate.  It’s commonly used in interiors. 

What Are Green Walls Made of? 

In general, green walls contain a growing medium and a selection of plants. However, some prefer to use an artificial green wall, even though it doesn’t provide the same benefits as a living wall. 

Various kinds of soil or a substitute substrate present a growing base for a vertical planter. Many systems are quite sustainable, with integrated hydration and fertigation delivery. Different types are grouped into four categories: loose, sheet, mat, and structural media systems.

The growth medium is placed on a structure, typically a bag, box, or pot. Loose growth medium systems contain the soil packed into a shelf or a bag placed onto a wall. Mat systems are usually made of thin coir fibre and require no soil. Sheet media are similar, but based on enduring, inorganic polyurethane sheets. Finally, structural media is a combination of different systems, shapes and sizes.

Maintenance of Planted Wall

The first year is critical for the prosperity of a green wall. During the first few months, everything depends on the right timings, especially for irrigation. A whole set of precautions and adequate actions ensures that the plants don’t fail or fall. On average, indoor hanging gardens need a bit more care than outdoor ones.

While taking care of a planted wall is not the easiest task; it’s rarely left to the customer alone. A successful living wall requires strict and regular maintenance, and many companies include a mandatory warranty for the first year after installation. After that, it’s the matter of the client’s preference. 

Vegetation in Hanging Garden

Possibilities are broad, and New Zealand boasts a tradition of growing tiny soil pockets on cliff faces, ensuring a wide variety of available native plants that can succeed in a vertical garden. Not all of these plants will produce flowers, but most have relatively low nutrient requirements. 

Not all walls are based on growing upwards—hanging gardens can look great with trailing plants, such as beans and tomatoes.

The best solution lies in adequately mixing a range of plants, including those that work well in the shade and require minimum maintenance. According to the common rule, anything that can grow in a container can also develop as a part of a vertical garden.

Tips for Planting a Hanging Garden

Everything starts with the basics, and a good-quality container mix is essential. 

It’s good to plant in line with location and climate conditions. Sun-loving plants will not prosper much in a shaded place full of moisture. All plants need good watering at the start and careful observation later. 

In real vertical gardens composed of soft herbs and edibles, it might be useful to plant more than one piece per pocket, so that nothing stays empty for long. In general, it’s recommended to place something that will trail at the bottom of a planted wall and taller species at the top

If you need help to decide which planted wall is the best, ArchiPro provides a connection to the various professionals, ready to assist with all requirements and questions. Simply click "Contact supplier" on the product's page, or visit the supplier's website directly from the product's page.