Vertical gardens (or "living walls") are not only pleasant to look at but also functional and practical. By planting up instead of out, living walls save space. They can also provide privacy and shade or be used to grow herbs and vegetables. Plus, they're good for the environment.
DIY vertical gardens are easier and more budget-friendly than you may think. Aside from plants or seeds, wire mesh, and pliers, you don't need much more than a little inspiration. To get your creative wheels turning, check out the five vertical garden design ideas below.
1. Vertical Herb Garden
If you love to cook, there's nothing quite like picking fresh herbs from your own garden. With hex mesh, some small pots, and a few pieces of wood for framing, you can set up a vertical herb garden and grow rosemary, thyme, parsley, mint, basil, dill, and any other fresh seasonings you'd like to have on hand.
2. Hanging Planter Garden
You can create a hanging planter garden either inside or outside your home. Similar to a vertical herb garden, you'll just need sturdy wire mesh, small hanging planters, and some type of frame. If you don't have hanging planters, tin cans and rope can also work. Whether you opt for plants, flowers, or both, this beautiful living wall will enhance your space.
3. Vertical Succulent Shadowbox
Slow-growing and low-maintenance succulents are ideal for vertical gardens. If you have an old window frame or a large picture frame, you can upcycle it into a vertical succulent shadowbox. Other than small succulents, you'll need cactus potting mix, wood backing, and galvanized welded wire mesh.
4. Climbing Wall
Climbing walls look great on commercial buildings, but they can also be lovely on houses, fences, sheds, and even free-standing lattice walls. It's easy to create your own with heavy-duty, large-weave metal mesh. Ivy, trumpet vine, hummingbird vine, moonflower, or Dortmund (climbing rose) are all excellent choices for a climbing wall.
5. Vertical Vegetable Garden
You don't need to live in a house or have accessible outdoor space to grow your own veggies. While a vertical vegetable garden can be set up almost anywhere, many city dwellers hang them right outside their apartment windows. With extra-sturdy, large-weave wire mesh, landscape fabric or burlap, twine, and seeds or starters, you've got the makings of a vegetable living wall.
If you’re a lover of all things floral, we’ve got another idea for you! Consider hosting your own “Big Flower Fight” using chicken wire and your favorite blooms. Here’s how to do it.
How Do You Make a Wire Mesh Vertical Garden?
Now that you know what types of living walls you can create and the supplies you'll need, you might be wondering how to go about building a vertical garden with wire mesh. While it depends on the type of garden wall you're making, these are the general steps.
First, you'll need some type of frame — you can use an upcycled window or make your own with a few pieces of wood. For a shadowbox garden, you'll also need to attach a backing using plywood or another lightweight material.
Next, measure and cut your wire mesh to fit the frame and attach it to the front.
Then fill your small pots or cans with potting soil and the plants of your choice and hang them from the wire mesh using twine or rope. With a shadowbox, you'll fill the frame with potting mix, insert plant cuttings through the mesh, and then keep the box horizontal for a few weeks until the plants root.
Make sure your vertical garden gets plenty of direct sunlight and water, and watch it grow!
Wire Mesh for DIY Garden Use from TWP Inc.
If you're ready to flex your green thumb and make a vertical garden from wire mesh, you've come to the right place. Since 1969, our women-owned company has been a leading supplier of industrial-grade wire mesh and hardware cloth. Our products are durable, weather-resistant, versatile, and perfect for a wide range of DIY gardening projects.
When you browse our inventory, you'll find welded, galvanized, sintered, and plain mesh in various sizes, weaves, wire diameters, and finishes. Though stainless steel is a top choice for gardening, we carry copper, brass, bronze, and aluminum as well. To provide our customers with the exact materials they need, we also offer expert services, including cleaning, measuring, roll slitting, and laser cutting.
Get your wire mesh today or request a quote for a custom order. To see your vertical garden featured in our online gallery, upload your photos to Instagram and tag them with #TWPWireMesh.
