Embracing Your Outdoor Space, No Matter the Size!

We’re whole-hearted believers that everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy gardening and connect with nature. For many of us out there, our homes might not feature a sprawling backyard oasis or acres of botanical potential. Whether you’re a city dweller working with a smaller outdoor area or trying to consolidate what you grow, follow these tips to embrace the space you’re working with this summer.

Big or small, you can also check out our guide to preparing your outdoor summer spaces here.

What Is Vertical Gardening?

Vertical gardening, as the name suggests, is all about growing upwards rather than outwards. There are a variety of formats vertical gardens can thrive in, ranging from simple to ornate. Starting with the most straightforward, they can be structured on a wire tomato cage or small fan trellis. If you’re looking to add some overhead height, hanging baskets or floating shelves might be best suited for you. For more elaborate structures, explore an arbor or pergola. A-frame and lean-to-style structures are also viable options. For this guide, we’re focusing on an outdoor trellis structure as our base.

The Benefits

Beyond the space-saving upside of vertical gardening, it’s also a great way to nurture healthier plants. Since the plants and lifted, they more are protected from some of the rotting, pest, and disease issues that plants on the ground can face (in part due to quicker drying time). Since more of the plant is exposed to the sun, healthier growth can also come from this approach.

Scoping a Space

Your first step is to determine the area you want to situate your trellis. Existing walls and fences are a great start for growing vertically. When picking, remember to choose a location that will provide the right balance of light and wind required for the plants you’re interested in growing.

Picking Plants

While you’re deciding what you’ll grow, top choices are vining, rambling, and sprawling plants. Some recommended picks for trellis plants include Apple Blossom Clematis, Vining Nasturtium, Black-Eyed Susan Vine, Morning Glory, Blue Moon Kentucky Wisteria, Climbing Hydrangeas, Petunias, and Madagascar Jasmine. As far as vegetables that can fare well vertically, look to climbing peas, pole beans, vining tomatoes, vining cucumbers, Malabar spinach, sweet potatoes, and sprawling types of melon.

Maintenance Needed

As far as watering goes, it is recommended to start at the base of the plant rather than over the top of the leaves. This helps to prevent fungus and disease issues, and ultimately conserves water. Alternatives to manual watering could be a drip irrigation system or a soaker hose. Pruning regularly is also a crucial part of keeping your vertical garden in tip-top shape. Our Heavy Duty Bypass Hand Pruner is a great tool to trim back those unruly vines. Beyond the manicured look, pruning improves air circulation, which can also help you avoid diseases and fungus issues in your garden.

Harvest Time

Once it’s time to gather your summer bounty, reach for our Super Duty Utility Snips. This 4-in-1 tool is not only perfect for harvesting what you’ve grown, but also acts as a serrated knife, scissors, and wire cutting blade. Keep this versatile tool handy for all your cutting needs.

An Alternative to Vertical Gardening

If vertical gardening isn’t your thing, don’t let the size of your space limit your access to nature. Instead, look to a local community garden. The American Community Gardening Association has an interactive map (see here) that you can explore to find the closest one to you.

Browse our tools and learn more about how they can assist building your own vertical garden by visiting here.