With summer in full swing, now is the time to beautify a balcony, grow herbs and vegetables near the kitchen or add colour to a lifeless wall.
Vertical gardens are the ideal way to go as they save on space and are suitable for areas of any size. They can be purchased pre-packed or created from scratch using everyday items from around the home.
Vertical gardens support sustainable living as they can be used to grow herbs and vegetables, so produce can be taken straight from the garden to the plate.Growing your own veggies will save money spent on groceries and will reduce waste from over-buying and excessive food packaging, says Bunnings national garden décor buyer, Matthew Hoffmann.
Here, Hoffman provides his top tips on how to take the garden sky-high this summer:
- Vertical gardens keep the garden bright and colourful without taking up space and are a fantastic feature to add life to dull walls or fences.
- Decorate an entire wall by setting up a lattice structure for vines to climb. Creeper plants are the perfect choice to cover unattractive outdoor features such as an old fence or garden shed.
- Choose plants wisely and consider how large the plant is likely to grow. Avoid plants that develop bulky root systems as they will be difficult for the structure to hold.
- Exposure to sunlight is vital for many plants, so make sure vertical gardens are set up in sunny areas, also keep an eye out for ground plants underneath and ensure the structure isn’t putting them into shade.
- Consider location and avoid building a vertical garden in areas exposed to high-winds to prevent damage.
- As vertical gardens are not based in the ground, care needs to be taken to keep plants healthy and moist. Water plants regularly and add mulch as this will ensure the soil retains moisture during warmer days and the plants are getting the nutrients they need.
