Vertical Garden Ideas That’ll Brighten Up Your Small Space

Vertical gardens aren’t just chic—they’re also exceedingly practical. In any outdoor room or patio, but especially in small spaces, the ground is just a fraction of the available surface area to fill; walls and ceilings make up the difference. If you don’t have enough floor space for a garden or cluster of plants, consider creating a vertical garden that makes the most of a bare wall. Whether you plant it inside or outside, a vertical garden will give you the space you need to plant flowers, fresh herbs, succulents–you name it—in the tiniest of square footage. From upcycling an old dresser to the simple act of hanging a few pots, one of these DIY vertical garden ideas will surely speak to you.

Tin Can Fence Garden

Liven up a dull backyard fence with spray-painted tin-can planters. Choose a bright color and fill the cans with vibrant flowers. It’ll instantly transform your yard. So the steps are super simple. Zander cooks a lot of pizza so we saved the cans that the tomatoes came in until we had enough. Remove the labels and then punch a few holes in the bottoms for drainage. You can also use little tin buckets. Spray paint the outsides of the cans and let dry.

Mason Jar Herb Garden

This DIY is much more satisfying to look at than a spice cabinet. You can grow all of your favorite herbs in a well-organized vertical garden made of mason jars and wood panels. Simply hang or lean them against a wall inside or outside.

Supply List:

3 Cedar fence boards 42-inches long and 7-inches wide
9 Stainless steel hose clamps – Purchased at home improvement / hardware stores.
9 Wide-mouth Mason jars
9 cups gravel – I used black gravel ~ enough to fill each mason jar 1/3 full.
1 bag growing medium – A prepackaged peat-lite mix (blend of peat moss, vermiculite and perlite) is an excellent choice for growing herbs indoors.
Herbs of your choice (chives, thyme, basil, rosemary, sage, oregano, mints and parsley work best)

Directions:

1.  Measure and cut the board to your desired length. This board was cut to 42-inches-by-7-inches.
2.  Attach the hose clamps to the board with screws. Leave 10 inches between each clamp.
3.  Fill each Mason jar with 1 cup of gravel. The gravel is essential for drainage in the jars becasuse they lack drainage holes.
4.  Add the herbs to each jar, packing them in with the growing medium.
5.  Position the jars in each hose clamp, and tighten each clamp securely around the jar with a screwdriver.
6.  Place the vertical garden near a very sunny window that receives between six and eight hours of direct sunlight each day (typically a southern or western exposure). When growing herbs under natural light, be certain to rotate the jar every three to four days to ensure uniform growth of the plant.

Lettuce Grow Farm stand

If you’re looking to invest in a next-level vertical garden, consider this miracle planter. The self-watering, self-fertilizing farm stand can house up to 36 plants and comes with a pH testing kit and water pump so you can grow veggies, herbs, and leafy greens with ease.

Wooden Bead Hanging Planter

Try a wooden bead hanging planter to give your beloved plant a stylish surrounding. Use a pot that complements the light wood like this dark teal one that gives off ocean vibes.

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Clay Pot Vertical Garden

Add a little greenery to your balcony or sitting area with a clay pot vertical garden. Bonus: You can easily take them down in the winter or move them inside.

Upcycled Dresser

Turn old dresser drawers–or even the whole dresser–into a cascading vertical garden. Use it to plant anything from veggies to your favorite flowers.

Wood Shelving Planters

Brighten up an old cement wall or dull fencing with tiered wood shelving planters. These weather- and rust-resistant versions by August Grove are also self-watering and have drainage holes that make them a low-maintenance option for even the black thumbs among us.