Green or Living walls are all the rage right now, bringing the color and life that Mother Nature provides into our living quarters, office buildings, or even restaurants. Although they may seem complicated to create, rest assured that anyone can set up a living wall with enough pre-planning. Here are four tips to help design a green wall in your living space.
- Location Location Location
If you’ve already got a space in mind the next step is to think about the amount of sunlight it gets. Even if you have your heart set on a succulent wall you’ll have some compromising to do if the wall doesn’t get enough sunlight. Think about the space, how much sunlight it gets throughout the day, and use that information to narrow down which plants would be best for the area.
- Maintenance
At the root of it all, a living wall is basically a giant collection of live plants, and live plants require upkeep. How will you water the wall? What are the steps to take to keep it looking trimmed and neat? These are important things to consider when planning out the wall. Irrigation can be a godsend in larger walls where hand-watering might not be an option. If your wall is indoors you’ll also need to make sure your plants can drain properly without soaking the floors.
- What plants you choose can make or break your wall ideas
Plants are the core of the living wall, so it is incredibly important to pick the right ones for your specific project. Annuals have the most color options and are easy enough to plant into stunning designs, but they die off after the season and will need to be removed and replaced repeatedly. Perennials come back year after year but tend to have periods of inactivity that might not look so stunning on the wall. Herbs can be a great idea that adds pleasing smells to the area but it is important to remember that not everyone finds those scents pleasing.
- Plants also have a mind of their own
Just because you have a vision doesn’t mean the plants you choose will comply. Always consider the way your chosen plants will grow. What cycles do they go through? Do they flower? How big will they get? Do they put out runners or a vine? If so, are you prepared to cut them back, or are you planning to let them take over an area. Resist the urge to clump your plants together, as the visual of fullness now will ultimately end in one of your plants outcompeting the others and taking over in the future.
Living walls are a great way to spruce up your environment, but it’s important to consider your project from every angle in order to land on the best wall that will work for you. Taking the time to think things through and plan accordingly will save you a ton of headaches as your green wall thrives for years to come.
