Garden Walls as Planter Boxes for the Modern Garden
When it comes to sprucing up your outdoor spaces, planter walls are one of my go-to recommendations to add greenery, functionality, and some unique visual appeal. Whether you’re dealing with a small space or a large garden, planter walls are a stylish and modern garden solution that can elevate your landscape design. They provide a creative way to maximize your vertical space, turning walls. raised garden beds or fences into living walls full of plants, flowers, or even herbs.
If you happen to have read my articles on retaining walls, or know a little already, then you know they’re a great way to deal with sloping land, stop soil erosion, protect your home’s foundations, direct water, as well as provide structure, seating, levels, and interest.
Let’s dive into some innovative ideas, to incorporate plants into both retaining and non-retaining walls. These can all be creative additions or uses for walls made of retaining wall sleepers, (timber or manmade), concrete sleeper retaining walls, and gabion walls you keep hearing about!
1. Create a Vertical Garden
Vertical gardens are perfect for spaces where horizontal ground is limited. You can easily transform a wall or fence into a green wall that showcases a variety of plants. Vertical planters or hanging planters are outdoor area space-savers and great for adding a touch of whimsy. There’s nothing like greenery to instantly liven up your exterior, and make it more vibrant and lush. Succulents, air plants, or native plants like shrubs can be perfect choices for creating a low-maintenance, visually appealing garden. But hey, it can be anything, from flowers, native plants, to vegetables, herbs and grasses. You are only limited by your design ideas… and maybe your climate. Here on the Sunshine Coast you can grow a huge variety of plants that survive and look great, year round.
Vertical Planters and Small Spaces are a Match Made in Heaven
Planter boxes especially when they double as walls that hold back soil, are the ultimate garden space-saver. While you can buy all kinds of vertical devices, not all of them are suited to retaining walls. You’ll want to spend some time looking at your goals for your garden to properly apply vertical garden ideas to create the right ambiance, and look and feel.
2. Flower Beds Anyone?
Don’t forget, you don’t have to be overly clever. Almost nothing beats a mass planting of beautiful flowers as a border on the edge of a wall. Finish the wall off with a seating area and you have a stunning meditative place to sit, read or just enjoy the view.
Indoor and Outdoor Plant Walls
You don’t have to limit your green creativity to the outdoors. There are so many wonderful indoor setups for walls inside with either bespoke or innovative planter products off-the-shelf! You could have an indoor herb garden in or near your very own kitchen. Don’t stop there. Planter walls are suited to all types of plants and you can create your own unique vertical garden … wherever you want.
3. Planter Walls Combine Function with Style
One of the best things about planter walls is their ability to combine style and practicality. Raised garden beds built into retainer walls allow you to prevent soil erosion while providing drainage for your plants. What are your garden planter ideas? Perhaps you’re after a modern look. You can integrate all kinds of materials into your wall: concrete planters or natural stone planters might be just what you need to complement the design aesthetic of your whole property. It can be a design element that blends in, or stands out (your choice) while keeping your garden healthy. You can even consider using different heights and modular designs to add depth and variety to your outdoor space. You could want a rustic feel, modern and sleek, or somewhere in between. Research and a little advice, from a designer, a landscaper or anyone you trust, can help you choose a suitable style.
4. Incorporate Unique Planter Designs
If you’re looking to add a bit of flair to your landscape, consider upcycled or DIY vertical planters. These can add a unique and personal touch to your garden wall design. Try using pallets, baskets, or even pavers to create a wall of garden planters. For a contemporary vibe, a sleek design with concrete or stone planters can work wonders. If you want to add more natural elements, planting shrubs or creating a flower bed along the bottom of the planter wall can help tie the design together with a touch of flair and beauty! One of my favourite touches, for sure and makes it more pleasing to the eye.
5. Add a Water Feature for Extra Appeal
If you want to take your planter wall to the next level, why not incorporate a water feature? The sounds and movement of water can add a calming ambiance to your garden, especially when combined with lush greenery. Maybe it’s just a simple fountain trickling over stone planters. or a more elaborate design to create a stunning focal point in your outdoor space. It’s not always considered but its presence can also help maintain humidity levels for your plants, especially for a vertical garden that might need more moisture.
6. Choose the Right Plants in Your Garden Design
The success of your planter wall hinges on choosing the right plants. Some plants such as succulents, air plants, or herbs are great for vertical gardens as they require little space and care. You can create a herb garden that’s both practical and beautiful, perfect for culinary adventures. For larger garden spaces, consider using plants that grow vertically or those that can drape down from the planters, like ivy or ferns. This helps create a lush, full look without overwhelming the rest of the yard.
7. Easy Maintenance with Style
Planter walls aren’t just about looks; they’re also incredibly practical. Whether you’re using them to cover a retaining wall or as standalone garden planters, they offer an innovative way to manage space and drainage. Many modern planter ideas incorporate systems that keep the soil in place and prevent drainage issues, because naturally you want your plants to stay healthy. If you’re someone who’s brimming with design ideas and loves to DIY, planter walls can also be a fun project to tackle. They add a touch of personal craftsmanship and reflect your garden style.
With the right selection of plants, planter walls are relatively low maintenance, so you can keep your garden looking fresh without too much effort.
8. Planter Walls for All Seasons
Another great thing I love about planter walls is that they can be adapted to suit different climates and seasons. For example, you can opt for hardy plants that can withstand the elements during the winter months or switch to succulents and herbs that thrive in warmer conditions. And if you know me, then you know flexibility and versatility are near the top of my list of priorities.
Whether your wall has tall shrubs, espalier trees, kitchen herbs, flowers, or is overflowing with ground cover plants, there’s always room for a garden!
Want Your Own Green Planter Wall?
Incorporating planter walls into your landscape design is a fantastic way to add a modern touch while keeping things functional. If you’re looking to create a vertical garden, add a water feature, or enhance your garden with stylish planters, Greener Landscaping can help you. Call us! We’ll put our heads together, find out what your garden goals are, consider the layout of your outdoor space and select the right plants. And of course, put them in the right kind of wall so together we can create a beautiful, practical, and unique garden that truly stands out. Our phone number is 07 4120 7807.
