Vertical Garden Blooms on the Crosstown

You may wonder, as we have, how this new practice of “vertical gardening” works.  Found most often in large cities with little outdoor space, vertical gardens are also just as useful – and bountiful –  in smaller metropolitan areas.

The Clemson Architectural Center- Charleston has created a vertical garden in Elliotborough, at  134 Line St., to educate the Lowcountry about the benefits and uses of this distinct growing environment. Designed by architecture and landscape architecture students, it includes bins, sheds and cabling.

The garden aims to meet several requirements: creating an area where tools could be locked,  improving composting, disguising Crosstown traffic and having space for a variety of plants.

A Post & Courier article describes the structure:

The resulting design includes treated wooden supports angled at nearly 90 degrees and linked together with metal cables. These cables not only provide lateral support to the wooden beams jutting into the air, but they also support several dozen potted plants. Some additional beams support a walking platform of metal grates so the fence can reach up to 9 feet in the air and average-sized gardeners can still reach the highest plants.

Example of a vertical garden, flickr: Jill Clardy

According to mastergardenproducts.com, vertical gardening has numerous benefits:

  • Vertical gardening can provide privacy and a disguise from unattractive views.
  • Vertical gardening provides excellent air circulation for the plants.
  • Certain pests are not vertical crawlers and you may be able to keep them away.
  • You can create shade with a vertical garden space.
  • Many plants can be trained to climb vertical structures.
  • You can grow more plants with little space.
  • Plants can be within reach for an individual with limitations who is unable to garden in a traditional way.
  • Many materials used for vertical gardening (i.e. trellises or stakes)  can also be used in ground-level gardening or raised beds.

If you’re interested in making your own vertical garden, watch this informative video with instructions:

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