Better Living…Walls
Building a living wall, also known as a green wall, requires careful planning and consideration. Here are the main things to keep in mind:
Location: Indoor or Outdoor? Make sure to choose a suitable location with adequate sunlight or artificial lighting.
Structural Support: Ensure that the wall can support the weight of the plants, soil, and irrigation system. We have a lot of customers ask us to mount our greenwalls onto an existing fence. Whereas this is definitely possible, we rarely do. The reason is we never know who built the wall and what kind of load it can withstand. It is always best practice to carefully consider the substrate you are attaching to and if necessary, consult a structural engineer.
Plant Selection: Select plants that thrive in vertical environments, considering factors like light levels, temperature, and humidity. Exposure is a very important aspect when selecting, so check the orientation of your wall to determine which direction it faces.
Irrigation System: Install a reliable irrigation system to provide the necessary water and nutrients to the plants. We prefer drip as it bottom feeds all of the plants as needed, without pooling a lot of water at the base.
Soil or Growing Medium: Use a lightweight, well-draining growing medium that retains moisture but prevents waterlogging. We love Berger BM2 for our Soxx, but more importantly the plants do too..
Maintenance Plan: Develop a maintenance schedule for pruning, fertilizing, and pest control to keep the living wall healthy. I always tell clients, “a living-wall is a lot like a fish-tank, not everybody should own one, but when done right and properly cared for they look amazing.” We offer a bunch of different maintenance options for our clients, but ideally they want to do it and create the magic themselves.
Design Aesthetics: Plan the layout and arrangement of plants to create an appealing design. Consider color, texture, and plant growth patterns. We use the term “Patterned or Organic,” to describe the basic plant layout. Some clients want waves of color and textures and others want it to look random and crafted by Mother Nature herself. Regardless a robust selection of contrasting colors and textures makes for the most interesting design narrative. How do you prefer to grow?
Water Management: Implement a drainage system to prevent excess water from damaging the wall and surrounding structures. This seems obvious but depending on the system you use, it can be a real problem. For all of our installations, we use Varden. It is an industry leading solution for reduced maintenance and cost of ownership. To learn more, check out their website here. If you’re interested in DIY, be sure to use the coupon code elevation2023 for a 10% discount at purchase.
Sustainability: Choose sustainable practices and materials to reduce environmental impact, such as using recycled materials and drought-resistant plants. All of the Varden trays are manufactured in the USA and use recycled plastics for better sustainability.
Budget: Determine your budget for construction, plants, irrigation, and ongoing maintenance.
Accessibility: Ensure easy access for maintenance and repairs, as living walls require regular care. One of the reasons we’re super fans of Varden is the soxx and tray system. If there is a problem with disease or simply you want different plants, each one foot linear soxx can be easily swapped out without having to canabalize the entire wall.
Local Regulations: Check local building codes and regulations related to living walls and obtain any necessary permits. In Southern California, there are a lot of new homes built on zero lot lines. Generally speaking most HOAs will not let you attach to common walls. Make sure to be a good neighbor and get their sign off. We’re trying connect people and plants not divide the neighborhood.
Professional Help: If unsure, consider consulting with a horticulturist, landscape architect, or a professional experienced in living wall installations. Of course we’d be happy to be of service or point you in the right direction depending on your location. A quick shoutout to all of the designers and landscapers following our blog that if you're interested in becoming an Elevation certified installer, we’d love to talk with you. Please check out the link here and shoot us an email so we can see if we are a fit.
If you’re an architect or designer interested in specifying a greenwall, vertical garden or living-wall in your next project, below is a helpful reference guide.
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