Vertical Gardening: How to Grow in Any Space

By GABRIELLA BOCK | Reporter

Don’t let an apartment balcony or tiny backyard hold you back from growing fresh fruits and vegetables—if you have limited room to grow, as many of us dwelling in urban areas do, it’s time to forget the ground and look toward the sky.

Vertical gardens have existed in our citiescapes for centuries. Elevated grape vines date back to third-century Mesopotamia, and wall and ivy gardens can still be found growing on homes and historic buildings all over the world.

Today, vertical food gardens—made popular by a German greening initiative of the 1980s—are springing up everywhere from skyscrapers to schoolyards, and everywhere else in between.

Not only does a vertical garden save space for the land-challenged, it will also help keep unwanted ground rodents and slugs away from your precious plants.

If you’re planning to plant upward, a basic hanging shoe caddy can be easily turned into a varietal herb garden. When choosing a place to hang your planter, make sure that it goes into an area that will receive enough sunlight for the plants.

Old gutters can also be used to create an attractive hanging garden. Gutter gardens make great planters for flowers, herbs and even some small vegetables like spinach and snap peas. Just remember to choose a spot that gets at least a few hours of direct sunlight each day. You’ll also need to be vigilant about watering as vertical planters block access to natural rain runoff—not that it rains much in Los Angeles anyways.

Besides providing fresh food right outside your door, these easy to make gutter gardens also create  a beautiful natural privacy fence or divider for your outdoor area.

Old wooden pallets have great repurposing power and make excellent wall planters for both indoor and outdoor spaces. Simply attach multiple terra cotta or cloth pots to the pallet using zip ties and get ready to grow. Pallet gardens are great for creating tiny ecosystems in one small space and are easy to move from one location to another.

No balcony? No problem—a couple of hanging globe planters and a window box is all you need to bring a little green into your living space. With a bit of creativity and a little ingenuity anyone can enjoy hand grown food at home.