Build a vertical garden yourself - step by step instructions

Which plants for the vertical garden?

If you want less work, you should choose plants for your vertical garden that require little water, such as succulents. However, these grow very slowly, so that no densely vegetated green wall will arise. But if that is your goal, consider using larger plants that will quickly cover up gaps, such as ferns. Climbing plants are also excellent. Flowering perennials and herbs are often used outdoors, while green lilies and ferns come into play indoors. It is also conceivable to create an edible vertical garden, for example with vegetables or fruit. More here.

Ideas for alternative vertical gardens

A vertical garden doesn't have to cost a lot of money. Homemade solutions often look much more attractive. Here are a few ideas on how you can easily create a vertical garden yourself:

Cut holes in a long PVC pipe, fill them with soil, place them vertically and place plants in the openings. (explained below)
Stack flower pots of different sizes on top of each other to create a kind of staircase.
Put plants in cans and glasses and hang them on the wall.
Cut the PVC pipes lengthways and plant them. (explained below)
Plant the shoe rack.
Plant plant bags or shoe bags.
Place flower pots with hanging plants on a ladder.
Create a vertical garden from a Euro pallet. You can find the instructions here.

Vertical garden made of PVC pipe

In this guide we explain how to make a vertical garden out of a single PVC pipe by cutting openings in this pipe and planting them. The PVC pipe is placed vertically.

Tool and material list

PVC pipe
Flex
Hot air dryer
earth
plants
Yardstick
Edding for marking
glass bottle

Measure

Depending on the length, you can make six or more incisions in your PVC pipe, which you can then plant. A 0.5 meter long pipe can cut six openings.

Measure 15cm from the edge and mark this with a marker on both opposite sides of the pipe.

To cut

At the marked point, saw a 10cm wide strip on both opposite sides.

Heat and bulge

Heat the area around the strip until you can bend the PVC. Then insert the glass bottle into the slot and bulge the PVC outwards. Repeat the process on the other side.

Next cuts

Then mark the next interface - not directly above the previous interfaces but in between so that the openings are offset. Repeat the process of heating and denting.

Mark the last two 15cm higher - again offset - heat and bulge.

Now fill your PVC pipe with soil and place plants in the openings.