Picture this: your loved ones are gathered on your patio, the table is set to dine al fresco, but there's just one thing overshadowing the atmosphere – a brown, wilting backdrop of a vertical garden struggling in the summer sun.
It's a common vertical garden problem to scorch and dehydrate in summer, but it can be easily prevented. By swapping plants for heat-lovers, getting an efficient irrigation system in place, and improving the position of your vertical garden, you can make it far more resilient for the hot months ahead.
Here, I talk through three main reasons why vertical gardens fail in summer and how to rebuild them for heat, so your living wall remains a spectacular feature throughout hosting season.
1. Swap Plants for Heat-Lovers
The main reason why vertical gardens fail in summer is because the plants aren't suited to the heat and drought that comes with summer conditions.
Vertical gardens dry out much more quickly than plants in the ground and even those in containers because they're elevated. When there's a lack of rainfall and extreme sun, they are vulnerable to challenging conditions.
If you have the likes of ferns or hostas in your vertical garden, they're likely to experience leaf scorch and dehydration, as both prefer partial to full shade and require consistent moisture to stay happy.
Of course, you can keep these plants healthy through summer but it requires constant monitoring and watering – not ideal when you want to sit back and relax.
To make it less effort, swap out your living wall plants with drought-tolerant planting and heat-loving plants.
Some top picks for luscious foliage and texture include Mediterranean herbs like rosemary and sweet potato vine (which you can purchase as starter plants from Amazon), as well as sedums (see the collection at Nature Hills) and other succulents.
Planting them up in a vertical garden wall planter (like this from Amazon) is the easiest way to create a heat-resistant green wall for summer.
2. Install a Self-Watering System
Another major reason as to why vertical gardens fail in summer is because you aren't watering your plants sufficiently to cope with how quickly they're drying out in the hotter temperatures.
The best way to keep your vertical garden hydrated during summer is by using an automatic irrigation system that takes care of it for you.
This drip irrigation kit from Amazon has everything you need to set up on a living wall, in tiered containers, in hanging baskets, and other vertical arrangements.
By adding an irrigation timer (like this from Walmart), you can make it automated so you don't have to worry about turning it on and off.
You can also use moisture-retentive growing mediums to ensure plant roots don't dry out. This includes placing moss or mulch (like this bark chip from Lowe's) on the soil surface to lock in moisture. This will reduce heat stress, keep plants hydrated, and prevent wilting.
3. Don't Forget About Shade
If your vertical garden is south-facing or caught in a suntrap, summer is only going to crisp up your plants. This is especially true if it's full of shade-loving plants or those that need a respite from intense afternoon sun.
If your vertical garden is a tiered planter, you should reposition it to a less sunny spot. However, if it's in a permanent position, such as a living wall, you may want to consider the methods to introduce garden shade.
This could be using a shade cloth (like this from Amazon), adding a patio umbrella (like this one from Target), or introducing trees to grow in pots nearby to cast shade.
If you're up for a bit of DIY, you can also add this heat-reflective backing from Amazon to your vertical garden. This will keep the plants cooler and reduce the chance of them being scorched during hotter spells.
What to Shop
This vertical garden wall planter has three pockets and is made with natural coco fiber for a natural look and plenty of drainage.
This vertical garden planter is tiered with four planting spaces. It's constructed of durable wood and is freestanding to be positioned anywhere in the yard.
This drip irrigation kit has everything you need to set up a watering system that keeps plants hydrated. It has 20 nozzles for full coverage.
Whether you have a vertical garden or sweeping borders, it's important to know how to water plants in hot weather in preparation for the summer months ahead. Likewise, read up on how to protect your plants in a heatwave to ensure your garden gets by unscathed this season.
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