MANY of us living in smaller units and apartments are looking for green projects other than the odd, slightly-wilted potted plant. Others with smaller or even traditionally large gardens are looking for new creative design techniques to bring modern flair to the backyard.
Vertical gardens are often the perfect solution to help transform compact living spaces such as balcony gardens, outdoor dining areas and courtyards. They make great privacy screens, add dimension and interest, and are low maintenance.
Vertical Gardens by Leigh Clapp and Hattie Klotz is the perfect companion for gardeners of all levels of experience and with all size gardens.
With more than 100 projects offering inspiration from some of the most creative minds working in landscape design, the book provides simple ideas for you to try.
Explaining the various systems available for creating “green walls” and offering practical advice on which plants work where, it shows you how to create an edible garden when you don’t think you have space, and fill you with easy more traditional ideas to add vertical elements to your garden.
The book is a delight of colour photography and interesting ideas – such as not chopping down a dead tree and instead preserving its structural form by painting it a vibrant colour; or using organic water-based paints to paint a living tree to add a striking statement.
Tripods can add vertical exclamation points in a garden while being a useful support for climbing plants, while walls, lattices and arches are decorative and useful.
Vertical gardens and raised beds are great for those who may have trouble bending down.
Strawberries, herbs, salads and some vegetables can all be grown in a vertical garden and are easy to harvest this way.
How to make steps interesting, using the textures of wall and fences, hanging baskets, planters, ornaments and sculptures, and hedges are all examined in clear text and beautiful photography.
There’s a section on using recycled products such as bed springs, old piping, palettes, old oil drums, plastic piping, picture frames and recycled timber.
There are some delightful simple projects that would be great to make with children or grandchildren – like the step-by-step guide to making a succulent miniature hanging garden, herb squares and living pictures.
Leigh Clapp is a professional photographer with more than 30 years experience as a garden specialist photojournalist but also with interiors and travel.
Hattie Klotz is a British journalist who writes regularly on food, design and interesting people doing interesting things.
- Vertical Gardens, New Holland Publishers, RRP $49.99, www.newhollandpublishers.com
