Vertical patio gardening is a wonderful way to experience the joys of gardening without the space and time commitments a full-scale garden demands. With just a little planning and these vertical garden ideas, you can grow many varieties of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, and enjoy them all season long.
Patio Gardening Items to Consider
Before you head off to the garden center, take some time to work through the plan for your patio garden.
Important considerations include:
- The sun and shade conditions throughout the day.
- The amount of space available.
- Access to water on the patio.
DIY Vertical Patio Garden Cost Breakdown
To construct your own vertical garden, you may incur the following expenses:
- Pre-built wood garden trellis: $30 – $50
- Plastic wall planters: $10 – $20/per planter
- Fasteners: $10 – $20
- Plants and potting soil: $30 – $50
- Steps for Building a DIY Patio Vertical Garden
You’ll be amazed at how easily a DIY vertical garden for your patio comes together.
Step 1
Begin by digging holes for the garden trellis base spikes. Make sure the holes are close enough to a wall that the trellis will be able to be mounted once in place. Set the trellis into the holes and backfill with small rocks or stones (if available) and dirt.
Once the trellis is in the ground, fasten the trellis to the adjacent wall with outdoor screws that are suitable for the material into which they’re being drilled.
Tip: You may want or need to add a piece of scrap wood in between the wall and trellis to ensure that the trellis is plumb.
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Step 2
Next, prepare the wall planters for hanging. For this vertical garden, the homeowner spray-painted plastic wall planters black to get the look she wanted. You may consider spray-painting wall planters to get your desired color too as planters are typically more difficult to find in a variety of colors.
Also make sure that any drainage hole plugs are removed, or drill drainage holes, if necessary.
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Step 3
Hang the wall planters to the garden trellis with zip ties or S hooks, depending on what works best with the style of wall planter you have selected.
Step 4
Finally, fill the planters with potting soil and plants of your choice. This DIY vertical planter is filled with lettuce and herbs, all of which grow well in containers.
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Patio Container Gardening
If vertical gardening won’t work for your patio, container gardening is a fantastic alternative. With even one planter you can grow a variety of vegetables or herbs, and it requires hardly any commitment at all.
Some of the best options for container gardens include:
- Arugula
- Radishes
- Lettuce
- Tomatoes (compact varieties)
- Herbs, like basil, oregano, and dill
- Peppers (compact varieties)
You can even mix plants in one container. Just like the “thriller, spiller, and filler” plan for decorative planters;mix the colors, heights, and textures of vegetable container gardens to create pretty pots that also feed you all season long.
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Ensure that whatever container you choose has sufficient drainage, and also enough space for the plants to grow. Also self-watering pots are perfect for growing herbs and vegetables on a patio where water may not be as easily accessible as in other parts of the yard. If you don’t have a self-watering planter, you can purchase self-watering stakes or even create a DIY irrigation system by punching a hole in an empty bottle cap, filling the bottle with water, and burying it at least two inches in the soil.
No matter the size or style of your patio garden, one thing is for certain: anything you grow will bring you joy and a sense of accomplishment. Make sure to provide your patio garden with the sun, space, and water it needs, and you’ll enjoy the fruits of your labor all spring and summer.
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Bre Eggert is the voice behind Average But Inspired, a DIY blog that strives to inspire others – no matter their skill level – to take action in their homes to create spaces they love. Her work has been featured on sites that include BobVila.com, House Beautiful, and Apartment Therapy. When not revamping her 1970s-style home, she enjoys watching reality TV and crafting.
