Living walls, can I really have one and what is involved?
If you are based in London or a big city like me, most likely than not, you have limited outdoor space. Living walls are a wonderful option for that connection with nature we all crave. They are also great for bringing greenery and nature to even the smallest space. They can provide decoration, privacy, food or even purify the air. Who is not up for being surrounded by a healthier environment?
The What?
Living walls are also referred to as vertical gardens, green walls, or eco-walls. They were first patented in 1938 by Stanley Hart White. They are the framework for placing living plants in vertical spaces being it indoor or outside. They are made of connected vertical sections or boxes that hang on a wall or stand on their own. They can be made from rows of planters or have individual plant holders. Some include irrigation and drainage systems to allow the plants to thrive and contribute to healthier spaces, which is great when you lack a green thumb!
The great outdoors
Outdoor green walls promote biodiversity (insects + birds). I must stress this point, as we have all been living through a pandemic and a healthy ecosystem is key for survival. They also look beautiful and can be used as backdrops or as feature walls in your outside space. They can insulate and protect a building, decrease vandalism, and as previously mentioned, they can help purify the air and also provide shade.
Inside Out
Indoor live walls allow us to have a direct connection with nature. Exposure to nature creates a measurable boost in productivity, creativity, and good mood whilst also ridding the air of harmful toxins. Plants also reduce noise because they naturally block high-frequency pitches and also make us feel calmer.
A vertical growing space also makes a great area for growing veggies. Cascading tomatoes, strawberries and green beans all do well as long as the boxes allow enough room for proper root growth.
In other words, living walls are a way to bring greenery to areas that might otherwise be bare, like a brick wall, a spot in the kitchen, or a patio fence.
What you need
• Properly planned Plant Material (selection of plants depending on light and watering needs)
• Growing Medium (the structure in which the plants will be placed)
• Irrigation System or Method (depending on the type of plants and your watering skills)
• A green thumb or Trained Maintenance Personnel
The Styles
There are many styles of living walls, and they make a great DIY project. If you are not the DIY type, not to worry, there are pre-made, pocket panels, hanging grow bags and wooden planting units available online.
Lower maintenance plants are your best bet when first starting your wall because they can flourish without much fussing. Plants such as ferns, herbs, succulents, mosses, and low ground covers work well. If you are feeling creative, you can even place them to form interesting patterns.
If you rather help professional help, I have trade discount with Green Matters and would be delighted to help you with your “green project”.
Picture Perfect
There really is no wrong place for a living wall, but there are a few spots that are particularly perfect. If you are looking for a spa like feeling, putting a living wall in your bathroom is a great idea. You can add mosses that enjoy the humidity of the bathroom to create a dramatic yet cosy environment. An uninspiring transition area like the hallway or the stairway can be transformed by a stunning accent like a living wall. Plants in the kitchen are a natural fit. You can make your living wall edible. There are many herbs and greens that do well in the living wall. Wouldn’t it be fun to pick your evening salad inside whilst is cold and wet outside?
The Bottom Line
Green walls are perfect for bringing nature back into urban environments, but that does not mean you cannot use them in even the most remote locations. They work in any space if they have light and water.
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