The Vertical Gardening Guidebook by Tom Corson-Knowles

C HAPTER 1. W HAT IS V ERTICAL G ARDENING?
    If you’re new to the world of gardening, or just recently found out about this unique way of gardening, you may be curious to learn more about how it all works. First, to clear things up for those who don’t know, vertical gardening is just as it sounds – growing plants upwards. But don’t all plants grow upward?
    Yes, but in a vertical garden, the vegetation isn’t planted horizontally like with most gardens. Instead, the plants are grow up the side of an upright structure, such as a PVC board, trellis, wire fence or other supporting material.
    Some people even use walls, which work by having a sideways garden. This consists of a tray with soil that is attached to a wall vertically. You can transport plants into its soil once they have sprouted.
    Other common names for vertical gardens are green walls, live walls and sky farms. Just as you would think, these are walls that were filled with all sorts of growing life. Some people intentionally plant vines around their walls, so that they can sprout and grow along the walls, giving their property a nice design.

    Above is a picture of a small green wall on the side of a house.
    However, green walls aren’t the only form of vertical gardening. There are many different types of ways to grow a vertical garden. Sky farms are usually found as part of a building and are located in urban areas. Some sky farms are edible, while others are only for decoration. Either way, they make for spectacular views.
    Vertical gardening is a simple way to create space in your garden, whether it’s in your backyard or on your rooftop. It’s a great form of gardening for older people with back problems, since they don’t have to bend over to tend to their garden. It also keeps your plants away from most pests, digging pets, weeds and rot.
    Who doesn’t love the idea of having a beautiful garden without having to till and do other back-breaking garden work? In fact, this is one of the main reasons homeowners all across the world are turning to vertical gardening for a new way to enjoy gardening with a lot less work (but more on that later).
    Some people may think that vertical gardens can only be used for vine plants, but this isn’t true. You can grow everything from tomatoes and onions to spinach and mustard greens. Perennial and annual flowers can also be planted in this style.
    You can get creative with your vertical garden, making it out of just about any materials you can find around your property at local home improvement store. You can even buy some pre-made structures for vertical gardening at specialty stores and web sites include modular trays, mobile living walls, frames, wire cages, gazebos, arches, tripods, netting, poles, hanging pocket shoe organizers and tube planters, which are all great for décor.
    You can even get a vertical gardening aeroponics system for about $500 with only 10 minutes of maintenance a week! More on that in Chapter 11 on aeroponic vertical gardening.
    To sum it all up, when it comes to vertical gardening you have the option of either building your own from scratch (for you crafty types!) or buying one that is easy to assemble and use. It’s never been easier to start a vertical garden!
    It’s very likely that you’ve seen vertical gardens before. They can be found growing in various establishments, including museums, corporate buildings and other architectures that have gorgeous living architectural designs.
    How do Plants Grow Vertically?
    Some plants grow vertically naturally, such as with certain vining plants. There are some that need a bit of help to get started. If you’re planning to grow grapes, tomatoes, cucumbers, pole beans and similar vegetables, then you can easily grow them vertically.
    All you need is a trellis or other upright platform that will direct the plants north. Vining plants are commonly found creeping up the side of walls, even without the intervention of humans. Imagine how