Living Walls

Happy New Year everyone!

My NY project is maximising the number of plants I can fit into my 'garden' which in reality is a small ground floor terrace (3ft x 11m). One idea I'm exploring is having living walls. Has anyone done this and/or have ideas on how it can be achieved on a budget and for small areas?

Have looked online but lots of systems seemed to be aimed at commercial sector (so large scale and cost)  - sometimes there is just too much information to know where to start online. I've heard they can be quite high maintenance but given the limited space I have compared to my enthusiasm for gardening that doesn't worry me.

Welcome any thoughts and advice - thank you

You could grow lots of climbers such as clematis. If the ground is concrete or paved you can grow them in pots. You could also hang pots on the walls. Or what about this, see link

http://www.greengardener.co.uk/product.asp?id_pc=16&cat=14&id_product=343

You could also have a go at this.....

http://lifeonthebalcony.com/how-to-turn-a-pallet-into-a-garden/

Hi Busy-Lizzie

Unfortunately it's shortage of floor space that is the problem - I already have to pirouette quite comically to reach everything to water it - tiptoeing through the tulips (et al) literally! But I don't have any climbers at present so a reminder to see what I can squeeze into my existing pots.

Thanks for the link, Heliotrope, looks really interesting and the finished project looks quite smart. I have some spare pallets on my allotment as well

Hi Chrissie, I have constructed vertical gardens using stock wire, scaffold net, and old polythene bags. Use treated wood to make a frame. Its cheap but makes alot of vertical garden for little expenditure.

No more digging or double digging there is a beautifully illustrated book called "TINE" How to Garden Without Digging, available at soilisalive.com

Don't really see how your 2nd reply about digging answers the original question here Andrew.  It just seems to be plugging your book yet again.

If you're going for the hanging flower pouches option, be sure to mix water retension gel in the compost or they'll drain to quickly.  Another great trick with them is to use inverted tops from drinks bottles to help funnel the water into the compost, so when you water it doesnt just rub out the first hole.