Turn Your Fence into a Feature with a Vertical Garden

At Fencemakers, we love innovative garden ideas. And the vertical garden is one of the trends we are in love with.

These days, a fence can be used to add a new dimension to your garden, whether you grow things up it, grow things through it, hang things off it, or a combination of all three. To give you some inspiration, we’ve put together some stunningly simple vertical garden ideas to turn your fence into a talking point.

Vertical Veggies:

As more people opt for apartment or townhouse living, vertical gardens have become a popular solution to growing plants and vegetables in a confined space.

A recent survey by Better Homes and Gardens magazine estimated that around 50% of Australians grow at least some form of fruit or vegetables in their garden. Vertical gardens that incorporate fruit or vegetables are not only a space-friendly way to grow fruit and vegetables, but can also be a real feature of an outdoor area.

Vertical veggie gardens are an ideal way to make the most of your existing fence or wall space while providing you with fresh herbs and veggies.

The ingenious vertical garden below uses recycled plastic bottles as containers for a variety of leafy greens. Suspended above each other on strong twine or wire, the garden not only looks great but is also practical, as water from the containers above drains through to those below, saving both water and time.

A philosophy of reduce, re-use, recycle underpins this vertical veggie garden.

Succulent Pallets

‘Upcycled’ timber pallets are another great way to create a vertical garden without spending much money or time. Pallets are easily accessible and usually free – out the back of your local supermarket is a good place to start – and converting them into a garden is not difficult.

There is heaps of advice about converting pallets online and no shortage of inspiration, such as the pallet garden in the picture below, which makes use of a variety of succulents, mixing up colours, heights and textures to dramatic effect.

 Planning Your Vertical Garden

The explosion in popularity of vertical gardens means there are a lot of resources available online to help turn your fence into an amazing vertical garden feature. There are a number of accessories designed to assist in growing plants on your wall or fence, including decorative metal frames and a range of planters and containers with inbuilt hooks or watering systems, to mention just a few.

Before you go out and spend your money, plan what you want from your vertical garden. It may be possible to adapt what you already have in your garden, or use recycled materials from around the house.

Think about what you want to grow – for example veggies and herbs need sun, while a fernery would do okay in sheltered shade. If the garden is on a balcony, think about water drainage — you don’t want to flood the downstairs neighbours.

Consider what kind of vertical garden would suit your fence — whether it’s timber or metal will influence the plants and containers you choose. It’s now possible, at many nurseries, to view sample vertical gardens, so do your research and you’ll get a good idea of what’s possible for your space.

If you are considering erecting a new fence that will incorporate a vertical garden, the Fencemakers team can help. All our fences are custom made to your specifications, so we can design a fence that will be best suited to a vertical garden. We can also go a step further and create a decorative screen fence, to further accentuate your vertical garden.

A combination of Australian-made materials, a 5-stage powder coating process and a strict quality control process means that the fence will not only look great but will also stand the test of time. All Fencemakers’ products come with a 15-year workmanship warranty.

Vertical Art

One of the best things about vertical gardens is their combination of form and function — like hanging a painting on your lounge-room wall, your vertical garden is an opportunity to express your creativity and personality in your outdoor space.

So, let your imagination run wild and turn your fence into a living work of art. Commissioned by the National Gallery in London, the example below is inspired by Van Gogh’s painting  “A Wheatfield with Cypress” and was on display during the London Olympics.

If you would like more information on our range of fencing and gates, or advice on any of your fencing requirements, please do not hesitate to contact us.

We are more than happy to come to site, discuss different fencing options and provide you with a free, no obligation quote.