Vertical Gardening! Growing up is good!
I have been trying out some of these ideas for our community gardens. The gutters and recycled pipes are winning out in terms of structure...the pocket planters are super easy to construct, and can be as simple as re-using a hanging shoe organizer! Just be sure to use loamy, light potting soil rather than garden soil to ensure your vertical garden doesn't weigh more than it has to.
There are countless ways to use vertical planters in areas where there is no horizontal garden space; if you have a wall, you can have a garden. A vertical planter can be in your kitchen, or outside. All of the hanging planters can be easily made more indoor wall-friendly by affixing a moisture barrier on the back of the planter to avoid leaking or seeping of water. If you are super fancy you can install a drip irrigation system (it's actually very easy and not very fancy at all...!) or you can stick with old fashioned hand watering. A reservoir underneath the planter ensures any water that drips from the bottom is collected; make your own from felt material and water behind the plants rather than the soil, and water is dripped down to the roots and the remainer evaporates through the material. Genius!
The gutter & pipe style planters can be installed at angles so that the water drips from one gutter/pipe to the next. For major eco-friendly gardeners (or lazy waterers!), install your gutter planter underneath an existing run-off section from the roof and voila! Nature does it for you. Next up: my obsession with square foot gardening.....
