Setting up a garden when you live in a countryside setting might seem easy but when it comes to urban environments having a garden of your own is next to impossible. Castle Companies explains that is because gardens usually take up a substantial amount of space. However, thanks to vertical gardening, today, even urban dwellers can successfully maintain a garden, and that too in small spaces.
Vertical gardening today has gained much momentum; however, it is not entirely a new concept. From the time of the roman empire with the Hanging gardens of Babylon being one of its earliest examples, vertical gardening has been around for longer than we might think and the benefits of vertical farming are many.
What is Vertical Gardening?
As the name suggests, vertical gardening is growing plants “vertically”. This usually involves the use of suspended panels on which plants are grown. These panels can either be supported by a wall or they can be freestanding. They can be small enough to fit on your desk or big enough to cover an entire wall. Although vertical gardening is mainly marketed toward those that have a small space, it can also be beneficial for people that don’t have space issues. That is because vertical gardening needs less maintenance as compared to traditional gardening. Additionally, the yield is high and there is less likelihood of pest attacks.
Benefits of a Vertical Garden
Vertical gardening is nothing short of a boon to urban dwellers. The lack of horizontal space in cities has given way to this innovative technique of gardening that comes with tons of benefits.
-
Less Space
The biggest advantage of a vertical garden is that it takes up a lot less space when compared to a traditional garden. You can either opt for stacked shelves that are suitable for growing plants such as greens, carrots, radishes, and other root veggies. Along with that, you can also grow herbs and berries. On the other hand, trellises are great for growing beans, cucumbers, squash, melons, and pumpkins while maintaining the landscaping of the home.
-
Fight Diseases
In traditional gardening, the plants are susceptible to a host of diseases, but in vertical gardening, much of that can be reduced or completely eliminated. One big example is plants that are grown on a trellis. The trellis structure helps the air to circulate better through the leaves, which helps with reducing instances of fungal infections.
-
Pest Control
In horizontal gardens, much of the surface of the plants is in contact with the ground, which could invite pests such as slugs and mice. In vertical gardens, the plants are hanging up, which greatly reduces the instance of pests attacking them.
-
Save Water
Another benefit of vertical gardening is that it helps in water conservation. When you use the stacked method of growing, water drains from one container or shelf to the one below, which aids in saving water. In addition to that, excess water can be collected and reused to circulate through the garden using a pump.
-
Maximize Yield
Because in vertical gardening, you make maximum use of space, and with the plants getting more sunshine and fewer diseases, the yield is more.
Takeaway
Because of its many benefits for people that want to grow their own food in small spaces, vertical gardening is an innovative growing technique that is here to stay for a very long time. Apart from being beneficial for those living in urban settings, it is also becoming popular among those who have a lot of space.
