I want to try making a vertical garden wall....any ideas on how to do this effectively with spending hundreds of dollars? Help Help! I'm located in Richmond, in a very wet boggy forest area...
I am also interested in a vertical garden in the cement stairwell to our basement apartment. It gets both sun and shade. In the winter, major rain (Coquitlam) and wind might make it difficult to keep intact. The question I have is: How do I install a vertical garden (e.g. the gutters) without putting any screws into the cement? Should I create a free-standing concept, with wires keep it stable by running it up to the railing posts at the top?
I'm creating a vertical garden using 6" pvc pipe cut in half lengthwise: we drilled holes in the bottom for drainage and then closed the ends with the 6" caps. I then attached hooks and chain to the caps and will hang them one from the other (4 in total) with the top pipe being hung from a support structure built of 2x4 which we will be securing it to one side of our raised deck. If you want, you could try building a platform (a couple of landscape ties braced far enough apart to create stability) and them attach post supports to use for your vertical support structure.
Thanks pmurphy! We rent, so I can't put any holes at all in the wall. Also, with the drainage, it would be dripping onto our front door entrance so I'd have to hose it off a fair bit, which is fine. I'll look into it more. Here are photos looking out from our kitchen door. C
Another option would be to get a couple of cement allen blocks and place your vertical supports in them and fill with cement (place a plank under the block while the cement sets so that it is not permanently stuck in one place). And this way you will have a something that doesn't have a large footprint but does have a lot of weight for your vertical uprights (you might need a couple to people to move it to the location when set). Second option would be to get allen blocks and just stack them up (at least 2 or 3 high on each side) before placing the horizontal supports inside - fill will gravel or sand to hold the support in place and easy to dismantle later.
How sturdy is the railing? Could you just hang planters from it? Maybe some of those fabric planters with pockets?
Eric I was thinking of hanging from the railing...even hooks or something...but I don't think it is sturdy enough. I will talk to our landlord. I would love to make it really colourful and cheerful, as that is what I look at all day from the kitchen. After that, maybe the window wells, but have to find out about building/fire safety codes on that.
