Want to Create More Space? Learn the Art of Vertical Gardening!

If you’re tight on space but want some green in your life, why not grow up? There are so many ways to grow a garden, and the more you try, the more you’ll learn. Vertical gardening and other techniques can be adapted for indoor gardens, container gardens, or conventional gardens to give you some extra growing room.

Vines are eager to climb if you give them support. A trellis, arbor, or pergola are all good options to add growing space to your garden. 

Many fruits, vegetables, flowers, and ornamentals can be trained up a trellis and provide food, shade, and beauty. Luffa, cucumbers, tomatoes, and pole beans are all excellent choices for a trellis. 

Plants that don't have tendrils that grab onto the structure can be held on with twine and garden ties.

South-facing garden walls or building walls can provide space for growing vertically. Vines will grow up the side of these structures, but you can also add some shelves or containers for non-vining plants. 

Wall gardens can be especially helpful if your plants need extra warmth, as the wall retains heat and can reflect light. 

One popular variation of the wall garden is the pallet garden, where a pallet (or other structure) provides a frame where you can plant containers or small pockets with herbs, green leafies, or flowers. These small plants can be removed and replaced as they are harvested. 

A large terraced space might be your ideal garden, but you can still apply the same concept to a smaller footprint. There are plenty of premade-tiered garden planters on the market, but you can also make your own with some planning. 

Consider drainage carefully if you’re creating a tiered garden. DIY tiered gardens from ladders or repurposed stairs are popular and attractive.  

If you’ve got windows that can accommodate window boxes, add them. It’s so easy to open your window and care for your herbs or flowers from inside. Deck planters also fall in this category. The rail on your deck is a perfect ledge to add some green.

A mix of marigolds, coleus, and sweet alyssum makes a beautiful window box. 

Take a cue from permaculture design! Herb spirals are small raised beds that can be tucked into a small space to provide fresh herbs in the garden. The unique shape of the spiral allows gardeners to plant sun-loving and shade-loving herbs in the same bed. 

Plant bigger growing herbs in the center and smaller annual herbs around the edges. 

No bending, stooping, or kneeling required! A raised garden bed has many benefits, especially the chance to grow in spaces that might otherwise be challenging. These beds are easier to tend and allow people with mobility issues more opportunities to be active.

Raised beds are excellent for growing eggplants, root crops, leeks, and all kinds of herbs.