is just what we lack in micro gardens. The floor space is valuable and limited and the design generally makes human activity, entertaining, sunbathing, etc, a priority. The one area that tends to be not used to the full are the WALLS. We may paint them, attach art work or grow climbing paints up the but are these the best uses or the best gain from the space. For the last few years LIVING WALLS have been created, mainly on public buildings, where plants are grown on the sides of building to create a living cliff of plants. The plants are grown on frames with growing media sandwiched between a water retention matting. They are irrigated from the top with the water flowing by gravity down the cliff face. In the USA we now are finding more of these living walls being manufactured for domestic use, from small square metre panels that hang on walls to complete house sides. Some are even designed with a range of houseplants to hang inside in living rooms or conservatories.
The best use in the yard though is as a VERTICAL KITCHEN GARDEN.
Even the smallest living wall could provide a welcome healthy addition to your diet. Planted with a range of quick growing salads and herbs, the wall would be both productive a decorative. Salad such as lettuce, spring onion and radishes are perfect especially the cut and come again varieties of lettuce that keep going throughout the season. Herb plants will provide an evergreen cover throughout the year and always be available for the keen cook. Ideal herbs include basil, mint, thyme, parsley, chives, rosemary and taragon. The salad and herb plants should be grown from seed or purchased as small plants or plugs from the garden centre, and planted directly throgh the matting into the growing medium. The growing medium must be well moistened before planting or water will not permeate easily once watering commences from the top of the wall.
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