Plant a Vertical Garden in Your Patio, Deck or Pergola

Growing and maintaining a garden on your deck, pergola or patio can be very fulfilling and loads of fun. But if you really get into it you could easily run out of space. The solution? Plant a vertical garden and maximise the space in your outdoor extension.
The whole concept behind a vertical garden is simple and straightforward. Instead of positioning the plants in the available space, as is the conventional practice, you stack them up using a wall rack, trellis, gutters, plant tower or some other such device that lets you grow several different plants within a smaller amount of space.This way, you get more production out of a smaller garden footprint. Vertical gardening does not have to involve anything fancy, such as hydroponics (although there’s nothing wrong with getting fancy). It simply means stacking your plants to save space.
This short video from a US hardware chain briefly explains how you can get your vertical garden started quickly.

You can plant practically anything in a vertical garden, but some plants are better-suited to this environment and actually work well to define the look of your garden. For splashes of colour and texture, plant Geraniums, Begonias and Japanese Iris. Ferns, Hostas and Baby’s Tears (Soleirolia soleirolii) are excellent for providing texture. If you are after interesting patterns, go for Bromeliads, Hoyas and the very dramatic Rock Lily.
Check out the video below for more ideas on how to set up your vertical garden and be inspired to get one started in your patio, deck or pergola.