How to make a green wall?
We see more and more of them in certain cities, as well as in decoration magazines. Green walls are indeed more and more fashionable. They are not only beautiful, they are also useful for reducing heat islands, purifying the ambient air and protecting the walls of buildings against bad weather.
Do you think 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.
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 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 when mature.
- Sunshine: for a green wall outside, opt for plants that are adapted to the sunlight 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 needs: some plants require constantly moist soil, while others can survive 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 install a green wall indoors, you will also need to think about protecting the surface under the green wall from humidity, in order to avoid the appearance of mould. 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 plant wall outside is to simply hang geotextile pockets on a house wall 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, you can get these famous pockets in some garden centers.
In Quebec, the company Smart Pot makes it easy and quick to 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 follower 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 wooden pallet plant wall project, you will need:
- One or more wooden transport pallets
- A roll of geotextile
- From garden soil
- A stapler
- The hardware and tools needed to attach your green wall to its support
- Plants of your choice
Start by fixing the pallet to its support using screws. Then, cut wide strips of geotextile, which you will fix with your stapler under each interstice in order to form « boxes » of flowers. Fill each pocket with garden soil and moisten it. Plant your plants and water generously.
To see other DIY ideas and projects with pallets check out this other article: Recycle an old wooden pallet.
5. A mini green wall for the kitchen
Would you like to create a small plant wall in your kitchen to grow plants or grow your herbs? Nothing’s easier. You can either install a few shelves near a sunny window, curtain poles to which you can hang pots with a hook, or even attach the pots directly to the wall.
In Quebec, the company Mon Jardin Urbain sells a mini green wall kit online that can be installed in the kitchen. Made of durable plastic, it can grow 9 small plants. Ideal for growing herbs!
Do you have 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
- The hardware and tools needed to attach the foam and frame
- Small format plants, succulents are ideal for this project
Start by removing the back of the frame. Cut your plywood the same size as the back of the frame, and attach it to the frame.
In order for your green wall to be waterproof, apply silicone where water could seep in. To protect the wood from the effects of humidity, apply an exterior paint.
Using a hot glue gun, attach your moss to the bottom of the frame.
Now prepare your plants. Run a light trickle of water over the roots of your plant until you can only see 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 pocket the moss mat around the root ball. Secure with the stapler. Finally, stick small pieces of foam on the staples to hide them.