Making my own vertical garden: why DIY is not the best option

Pinterest is a world of DIY posts, and the average person now has the chance to become a “mini” expert on almost any topic. Is planting a vertical garden not much the same? Can I not just Google videos on how to plant a vertical garden and find resources that give me what I need to grow an indoor plant wall? Here are a few things to consider as to why you shouldn’t just make your own vertical garden.

What makes living walls so expensive? Surely a DIY is cheaper?

We are often misguided on the cost of labour and goods when it comes to certain purchases. When buying a crafted good at a market, we often compare the prices to store brought prices but do not always consider the costs and the time it takes to create that particular piece. Until we try to do it ourselves.

A DIY home kit with hessian will cost you approximately R3000 per square meter. The average cost per plant at a retail nursery is anywhere between R100.00 and R350.00, which adds up when a larger number of plants are needed to fill the living wall space. Add in the costs of irrigation and maintenance and the overall cost ends up being significantly higher than a living wall installed by a reputable supplier in South Africa.

Can I just do the work of looking after my vertical garden?

Maintaining a living plant wall is often the most essential part of the process. It may seem straightforward – keeping the garden well-watered? While water is key, there are a number of other elements at play like pest identification and sustaining an adequate support structure. Every plant in the ground, to a degree, has a natural support system, with gravity in place. However, a plant wall requires necessary root support as the plant grows.

It does require skilled hands with the right knowledge. This is why our skill set is imperative to the process. We can either offer continued maintenance or we can offer guidance on a monthly basis. Without essential maintenance, every plant wall will lose its lease on life. See blog article “What you need to know about a vertical garden?” here.

What about design – can I design my own living wall?

The beauty about living walls is that they are living pieces of art that can be designed in just about any space. Living Green Walls encourages client participation and involvement in the design of each living wall. One can make a plant selection and submit that to us, to which we will provide comments and give feedback on the plants you have selected. Our hope is that our plant knowledge and advice coupled with your design ideas will result in a truly magnificent living wall in your unique space.

So, back to answering: Why should I not just make my own vertical garden?

You can, but the question really is, should you? Do you have the time, passion, expertise, willingness to learn and get your hands dirty? Then yes. Is it more cost effective? No. These are the questions and realities one needs to weigh up and, in most cases, most of us don’t have enough stamina to maintain a vertical garden. By the time you have managed to erect the garden, you may have over-spent and perhaps set the project up for failure with poor plant choices, unstable support structures and waning water supply. Why not consider giving us a call so we can advise and quote on what clearly is a dream for your space, otherwise we wouldn’t find you right here?

What makes living walls so expensive? Surely a DIY is cheaper?

Can I just do the work of looking after my vertical garden?

What about design – can I design my own living wall?

So, back to answering: Why should I not just make my own vertical garden?

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