Living wall.

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by rustyroots, Jun 17, 2012.

  1. rustyroots

    rustyroots Total Gardener

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    Hi All,

    I've just watched gardeners world from last night and I want to block off a part of the garden from my son. I was going to use a picket fence, but after watching gardeners world fancy putting in a living wall. Has anyone else got a living wall and how easy is it to do and keep?

    Rusty
     
    rustyroots, Jun 17, 2012
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  2. clueless1

    clueless1 member... yep, that's what I am:)

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    What is a 'living wall'?

    I'm aware of willow 'fedges'. Is that the kind of thing? In which case I can vouch for them.
     
    clueless1, Jun 17, 2012
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  3. rustyroots

    rustyroots Total Gardener

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    It is a wall with pockets in it that you plant plants in all the way up. On gardeners world there was a garden designer who had made one using moisture holding fabric backed with plastic, but they were saying there is specially designed stuff on the market very expensive though.

    Rusty
     
    rustyroots, Jun 17, 2012
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  4. miraflores

    miraflores Total Gardener

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    I also watched the programme and my concern would be not so much the positioning of the plants/seedling in the pockets at the start, but the watering and general maintenance say if they were to dry out or be ill. Then i must say I like the horizontal gardens on a roof more than the vertical gardens.
     
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      miraflores, Jun 17, 2012
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    • Lolimac

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      I saw it too Rusty and love the idea:dbgrtmb:....i'm thinking of doing a 'fern wall' and using more of the drought tollerant ferns....i saw one on telly recently but can't remember where it was:dbgrtmb:
       
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        Lolimac, Jun 17, 2012
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      • rustyroots

        rustyroots Total Gardener

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        I've been thinking that maybe using wooden pallets backed with weed fabric and cutting out some pockets in the slats to plant int and then stand it on its end. I think your idea of drought tolerant plants would be a good idea lolimac or maybe run a soaker hose through it.

        Rusty
         
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          rustyroots, Jun 17, 2012
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        • clum111

          clum111 Gardener

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          Hi,

          I was at Gardeners World Live Saturday and the living wall was fab. I found the stand that sold these pockets and it was great to see how they work. You just water the back tounge with a spray or hook up a drip. Below is their website for more info, but not cheap, £29.99 per pocket.
          http://www.gardenbeet.com/woolly-pocket.html

          Calum
           
          clum111, Jun 18, 2012
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        • rustyroots

          rustyroots Total Gardener

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          Wow thats expensive!

          Rusty
           
          rustyroots, Jun 18, 2012
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        • ARMANDII

          ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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          I saw the program and the idea of a "living wall" being shown and advocated. I'm all for new ideas and suggestions, but as Miraflores pointed out the maintenance and watering of it must be horrendous, depending on the size of the wall. Not all the plants are going to "take" or like being in a living wall.
          The "Living Wall" Gardeners World had in public view was only a temporary one and the plants were going to Schools after the Show so there were plants in it that wouldn't have lasted long and weren't really suitable for a long term wall.
          Some of the "Living Walls" of individuals in the program must have cost hundreds of pounds to set up using the absorbent fleece in the quantities that it was, plus the frames, special fertiliser, and the amount of compost to fill the fleece cavity, and that's without the plants [which weren't cheap off the market plants]. Also I have a feeling that those people didn't do it themselves but left it to professional gardeners to maintain.
          I guess it all depends on the size of the "wall" being contemplated and "new" ideas in gardening are always welcome, although I suspect the attractiveness of this one will die off quickly when people find how many hours it takes to keep up with watering, pruning, replacing plants that don't do well in the "pockets". But as they say if you don't try...........:snork:
           
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            ARMANDII, Jun 18, 2012
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          • joolz68

            joolz68 Total Gardener

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            I seen it aswell and the living wall the guy had at the house by the spiral stairway looked like it was the grey material you get in the old type spring matresses,maybe you can buy it by the roll still ? but i would think it would be heavy if too wet:dunno:
             
            joolz68, Jun 19, 2012
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          • HYDROGEN86

            HYDROGEN86 Head Gardener

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            I think there are ways you can make them cheaply using guttering either flat or at a slant so it drains. You just put the plants in little grow bags in the guttering mite work best against a wall though.
             
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