We see more and more in some cities, as well as in decoration magazines. Green walls are in fact more and more fashionable. It is that they are not only beautiful, they also have a utility to reduce the heat islands, to clean the ambient air and to protect the walls of the buildings against the bad weather.
Do you think that making a green wall is complicated? Think again! There are several easy ways to decorate a wall with plants, sometimes even with recycled materials. Here’s how to make a green wall indoors or outdoors.
1. How to choose plants for a green wall?
Several factors should be considered before choosing the plants that will adorn your green wall:
- The type of plants: to avoid having to replant, choose long-lived perennials. Avoid annuals as well as biennials that die off after flowering.
- The size of adult plants: as they will have to grow in a relatively small space, choose plants that are not too big at maturity.
- Sunshine: for a green wall outside, opt for plants that are adapted to the sunshine conditions where you will erect your wall. Indoors, it is better not to create a green wall on a surface that is very sunny, to reduce the need for watering.
- Water requirements: some plants require constantly moist soil, while others can live without regular watering. Opt for the latter to save water.
2. Green wall kits
The easiest way to create a green wall is to get a green wall kit. These sets include the galvanized steel modules to be fixed to the wall, the sphagnum to install the plants and ensure an ideal humidity level, as well as an irrigation system.
If you are installing a green wall indoors, you should also remember to protect the surface under the green wall from humidity, in order to avoid the appearance of mold. You should leave a space of a few centimeters between the supporting wall and the green wall to facilitate the circulation of air.
3. An exterior green wall with geotextile
A very simple way to create a green wall outside is to simply hang geotextile pockets on a wall of the house or on a wooden fence. DIY fans will know how to make them themselves, but for those who are not confident in their manual skills can get these famous pockets in some garden centers.
In Quebec, the company Smart Pot allows you to easily and quickly create a green wall thanks to its system of geotextile pockets sold individually, thus making it possible to create a green wall of the desired size.
4. Create a green wall with recycled pallets
If you are a fan of the Pinterest website, you have surely seen the panoply of projects that can be made from recycled transport pallets. These can be used to create a cheap green wall. Here’s how to recycle a wooden pallet into a green wall:
For this green wall project on a wood pallet, you will need:
- One or more wooden transport pallets
- A roll of geotextile
- From land to garden
- A stapler
- The hardware and tools necessary to fix your green wall to its support
- Plants of your choice
Start by attaching the pallet to its support using screws. Then, cut wide strips of geotextile, which you will fix with your stapler under each gap to form flower “boxes”. Fill each pocket with garden soil and moisten it. Plant your plants and water generously.
5. A mini green wall for the kitchen
Would you like to create a small green wall in your kitchen to grow plants or grow your herbs? Nothing’s easier. You can either set up a few shelves near a sunny window, curtain poles to hang pots with a hook on, or even attach the pots directly to the wall.
In Quebec, the company Mon Jardin Urbain sells online a mini green wall kit that can be installed in the kitchen. Made of durable plastic, it can grow 9 small plants. Ideal for growing herbs!
6. How to make a green wall in a frame?
Got an old wooden frame and don’t know what to do with it? You can reuse it to make a charming little green wall. You can make just one, or combine frames of different sizes to cover a large area. Here’s how :
For this green wall project, you will need:
- A wooden picture frame
- A thin plywood board
- Vegetable moss
- Silicone
- Hardware and tools needed to secure the foam and frame
- Small plants, succulents are ideal for this project
Start by removing the back of the frame. Cut your plywood to the same dimension as the back of the frame, and attach it to the frame.
So that your green wall is waterproof, apply silicone where water could infiltrate. To protect the wood from the effects of humidity, apply exterior paint.
Using a hot glue gun, attach your vegetable foam to the bottom of the frame.
Now prepare your plants. Run a light stream of water over the roots of your plant until all you can see is the roots. Roll up the roots to form a small ball and secure them with a rubber band.
Cut small squares of moss just large enough to cover the root ball of your plants. Place the plant on the frame and make a pocket with the moss mat around the root ball. Secure with the stapler. Finally, glue small pieces of foam on the staples to hide them.
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