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Nowadays, it is impossible to talk about landscaping trends without mentioning vertical gardens.
To counterbalance our cosmopolitan lifestyle, with its tall, grey buildings, architects, urban planners and landscapers have wanted for some years now – despite the buzz in Portugal, this is not a new trend – to find ways to bring us closer to nature by creating these, sometimes enormous, vertical gardens. Their main functions are to contribute to improving the quality of life on the planet, as they help reduce pollution, increase air humidity and even help recycle some toxic gases, among other benefits.
Today, on a smaller scale, we want to bring this trend to our homes, even apartments, since one of the main advantages of the vertical garden is the fact that it takes up little space, and can be set up in small areas, bringing a great impact to the decoration and feel of the spaces.
But since this trend is only now becoming quite popular in Portugal, there are certainly still some doubts. Let's clarify!
WHAT IS A VERTICAL GARDEN?
A vertical garden is a type of landscaping in which plants are arranged vertically with the help of a special structure/support. The main intention, in addition to bringing us closer to nature, is to make it possible to create an environment full of life even in small spaces.
WHERE TO DO IT?
Although this is a trend for those who live in apartments, those who live in houses or larger spaces can also create their own vertical garden. Why not? In this case, vertical gardens can decorate the outdoor pool area, balconies or lounges set up outside the house. Vertical gardens are versatile and can be placed in any type of environment. They can be structured on balconies, entrance halls, kitchens, indoor gardens and in larger bathrooms.
HOW TO DO IT AND WHAT TO PLANT?
In general, the most important thing is that the chosen plants are arranged in a way that they can survive in the vertical environment, with the correct care.
To make a vertical garden, you can use supports such as pallets , fruit crates, small hanging pots, or you can even choose to cover an entire wall with vegetables. The more diverse and exotic the plant, the more beautiful it will be. Keep in mind that each plant has specific maintenance requirements.
Ferns and Monsteras, for example, need little light and thrive in partial shade, because they are tropical. Snake plants, on the other hand, need a lot of light.
We cannot forget that there are plants that need a lot of water and others that need moderate irrigation.
If we don't want to spend a lot of time maintaining our gardens, we can always use succulents and cacti that grow happily in the sun and need little water.
WHAT CARE SHOULD BE TAKEN?
There is not much to point out other than the previous point. The plants will really need certain care so that they can last much longer and offer the freshness you are looking for in your home.
First, you need to water them periodically, observing the needs of each one.
Tip: Put your finger in the pot to see if the soil is dry or too wet, although the ideal is always somewhere in between.
Another important aspect of maintaining a vertical garden is fertilization. This means keeping the soil rich in nutrients so that the plants can grow healthily.
Another important point is pruning. Yes, even though it is a vertical garden, it is important to remove dry leaves and branches so that healthy branches can grow freely.
Now that you know everything about vertical gardens, how about creating a little green space at home? Here are some ideas of what to use.
by Silvana Querido, from the blog dearprojectblog
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