Going Green: How to Create a Simple and Space-Saving Vertical Garden

Whether you'd like to grow your own supply of herbs or want to easily add greenery to your surroundings, a vertical garden is a simple and space-saving way to do this.

One major benefit of a vertical garden is that you can keep your plants indoors or outdoors. You can attach it to anything from a fence to a wall, or even a door. Another plus: you won't have to spend the weekend digging up the yard. Instead, you set up your vertical garden, add soil and plants, and you're done.

The best way to begin is to decide what you want to grow. This is because your next step is to locate an area that has the right amount of sunlight for your plant choices. Next, you can shop for a pre-built vertical garden – many hardware stores and nurseries sell them – or build your garden with ready-made kits available online.

Here are a few tips for beginner gardeners:

• Choose smaller plants that don't require a deep root system. Herbs, parsley, and many annual flowers work well. So does spinach and other salad-friendly lettuces.
• If you're worried about overwatering an indoor vertical garden, be sure to put a tray at the bottom under the lowest row of plants.
• If you're building your own garden, be sure to use well-draining potting soil.

Source: marthastewart.com

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