A vertical garden, also called facade greening, is a garden laid out vertically in which plants grow on or against a wall instead of on the ground. It is a form of facade greenery that turns a wall, facade or free-standing screen into a living, green wall.
Systems
A vertical garden is built up in various ways:
- Tray system — planters or cassettes with potting soil, stacked up the wall
- Mat system — felt or rock-wool mats in which the plants root, fed by irrigation
- Hydroculture — plants that grow on water and nutrients without soil
- Climbing plants with a wire system — a simple, ground-based variant
Almost all systems need automatic irrigation and a moisture-protecting separation from the structure behind.
Application and advantages
- Facades and internal walls — decorative greenery that takes little ground area
- Small gardens and balconies — greenery where horizontal space is lacking
- Cooling and air quality — plants absorb heat and fine dust
- Sound damping and biodiversity — the growth dampens noise and attracts insects
Points to watch
A vertical garden needs maintenance, a reliable water supply and the right choice of plants for the position (sun or shade, indoors or outdoors). Without good care the wall dries out quickly.
Related Terms
- Green facade
- Green wall
- Living wall
- Green roof
- Climate adaptive
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