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Small Garden? No Problem! Vertical Gardening Ideas That Work

If you have a green thumb but little space to nurture all the plants you love, it’s time to take up vertical gardening. And the best part is you, get to be creative!

Vertical gardens are so useful in compact spaces, but you can set one up anywhere, especially if you want to increase your growing threshold. You don’t have to break the bank, either. There are many creative, economical ways to set your garden space — no matter how small — up for success.

Trellises

Plump sungold tomatoes climbing up a red trellis, ripe for the picking with a blurred background
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Trellises are one of the most popular ways to grow plants in a garden or other small space, especially vining varieties. You can easily grow vegetables and fruits this way, too, and some experts say it results in higher-quality growth.

Trellises can be made out of anything, really, including wood, metal, or plastic. They’re lined with a mesh lattice that helps the plants cling to as they grow. The upkeep is relatively simple, too, and mostly includes removing leaves, debris, and dead vines from the trellis. It may also require repairs from time to time.

Pallets

Pallet rebuilt into flower boxes
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

If you like to grow herbs, you might want to consider making a vertical herb garden from used pallets. You can get them cheap from a hardware store or, better yet, free from other stores looking to get rid of their stock.

With the pallets, you can attach planter boxes and then grow rosemary, dill, chives, parsley, cilantro, and so much more. They can also be used as a starter planter box for larger vegetable and flower varieties.

Hanging Pots

Hanging basket with strawberries.
Image credit: Depositphotos.

Hanging pots come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, and are ideal for growing many varieties of flowers, vines, or even when you’re starting out with vegetables. They hang by ropes or small chains and help create a stunning visual effect on patios, decks, and lanais.

Typically, you’ll want to bring plants in hanging pots inside when temperatures drop to prevent freezing.

Stacked Raised Beds

Strawberries in raised garden bed.
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Raised beds help keep plants out of the ground and give you more planting space. Have you ever thought about stacking them, though?

You can build the raised beds in multiple sizes, starting with the largest on top and adding smaller ones in a tower fashion, in the shape of a pyramid. You’ll want to leave about six inches of planting space available on all sides.

Garden Arches

wire trellis/tunnel for growing vegetables vertically.
Image credit: Backyard Garden Lover.

Garden arches are typically decorated with flowers as a focal point, but you can also use them as a planting structure for a vertical garden. Think of all the possibilities: grape vines, cucumbers, roses, and more.

Garden arches do tend to be bigger, so you can actually take advantage of space beneath the arch as well.

Wall-Mounted Planters

green wall with flowers on the balcony
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

If you have an outside wall, consider mounting planters to it. You can use these planters (which are often on the smaller side) to prevent them from falling off, to start new vegetable or fruit varieties, or to grow herbs.

A wall-mounted planter setup is easy to start and relatively inexpensive, especially if you use plastic pots.

Welded Wire

a garden fence made of metal
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Welded wire is available at your local hardware store, or if you have the skills, you can make it yourself. This method is a bit more involved since you’ll need to attach it to a structure like a fence or T-post, but it’s worth the time and effort because you can attach many plant varieties to it, in pots or not.

It’s versatile and pretty inexpensive, making it a good option if you’re just starting out and exploring the many ways to vertical garden.

Chicken Wire

Issaquah, Washington State, USA. Snap peas growing up a chicken wire trellis.
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

Chicken wire is pretty cheap, so it’s no wonder gardeners use it as a vertical option for growing plants and saving space. However, you will need to attach it to a sturdier structure as it can bow under too much weight.

It’s a great way to create extra space at a lower cost. The only downside is chicken wire may not last as long as some of the other options on this list, but it’s a great way to get started.

Fences

Thriving cucumber plants with vibrant green leaves and yellow blossoms growing along a white fence
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

If you have a fence already, you can take advantage of the existing structure to save space in your garden. You can use it for all kinds of plants, including climbing vines.

But, if you want to get really creative, you can drill holes in the face or add screws with loops to stabilize planters on the surface for a herb garden or for smaller flower varieties.

Ladders

Wooden folding ladder used as shelves for plants in natural dining room interior with white walls.
Image Credit: Shutterstock.

You use ladders to climb, so why not as a vertical element for your small garden? This is a great way to repurpose an older one that you might not use as often but don’t want to get rid of.

Use the rungs to hold either individual pots or planter boxes, depending on the width of the step. It’s a great solution for holding fruits, flowers, herbs, or vegetables.

Author

  • Bonnie's interests include hiking, a passion she nurtured while living in Upstate New York, and cooking, gardening, and home decorating. These hobbies allow her to express her creativity and connect with nature, providing a well-rounded balance to her busy life. Through her professional achievements, community involvement, and personal pursuits, she embodies a holistic approach to life, dedicated to service, growth, and well-being.

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