I’ll be honest – when I first heard about “vertical gardens” or “living walls,” I thought it sounded like one of those expensive designer trends that regular homeowners like me couldn’t afford or maintain. But after doing some reading and trying a few small-scale projects around our house, I’ve learned that these plant-covered walls can actually be pretty practical, especially for those of us dealing with limited space or mobility issues.
The whole concept is straightforward enough – instead of having plants in pots on the floor, you mount them on walls, either indoors or outside. What caught my attention wasn’t the fancy installations you see in magazines, but how this approach could solve some real problems we face as we age in place.
## Why Vertical Gardens Make Sense for Urban Living
My daughter lives in Chicago, in one of those neighborhoods where a postage stamp of yard costs a fortune and most people are lucky to have a balcony. When she started reading about biophilic design and wanted more plants in her life, growing up instead of out made perfect sense. She doesn’t have room for a traditional garden, but she’s got walls.
This got me thinking about all the cities I’ve visited over the years – places like New York or San Francisco where green space is so precious. I read about this building in Sydney, Australia called One Central Park that’s basically covered in plants. Looked it up online and was amazed at how they integrated a massive vertical garden right into a residential and commercial complex.
The practical benefits go beyond just looking nice. These plant walls actually filter air pollution, which is a real concern in urban areas. I learned this from articles about how plants remove nitrogen oxides and other contaminants from the air we breathe. Growing up in Detroit during the automotive industry’s heyday, I remember what bad air quality was like. Anything that helps clean the air naturally seems like common sense.
The temperature benefits are real too. Plants provide insulation and can help cool down those urban heat islands where concrete and asphalt make everything hotter. When you’re on a fixed income like we are, anything that might help with energy costs is worth considering.
## What Actually Works: Lessons from Trial and Error
The maintenance question is what everyone asks about, and rightfully so. I’ve always been practical about home improvements – if something requires constant attention or expensive upkeep, it’s not realistic for most people.
For indoor vertical gardens, I’ve learned that plant selection is everything. The hardy, reliable houseplants your grandmother grew – things like pothos and philodendrons – turn out to be perfect for vertical setups. They tolerate inconsistent watering, don’t need perfect light conditions, and actually help purify indoor air. These aren’t fancy exotic plants, but they work.
I started small with a simple vertical planter system in our mudroom – nothing elaborate, just a wooden frame with pockets for plants that I mounted near the window. Used it for herbs my wife could harvest for cooking without having to bend over or kneel in the garden. The setup cost maybe fifty dollars in materials and took a weekend to build.
The watering system was the trickiest part. Initially tried a drip irrigation setup I ordered online, but it was too complicated and kept malfunctioning. Went back to hand watering, which actually works fine for a small installation and gives my wife something to do as part of her daily routine.
Pest control is something you have to think about, especially indoors. Had an issue with scale insects on the pothos after about six months. Did some research and learned that introducing beneficial insects like ladybugs can control pests naturally, without chemical sprays that might bother my wife’s breathing. Worked better than I expected.
The key lesson is to start simple and expand gradually. Don’t try to recreate those elaborate installations you see in commercial buildings. Focus on what you can reasonably maintain and what actually improves your daily life.
## Making It Work for Aging in Place
What really sold me on the vertical garden concept was how it could address some of the challenges we face as we get older. My wife’s mobility issues make traditional gardening difficult, but a wall-mounted planter at the right height means she can still tend plants without strain.
We converted part of the south-facing wall in our kitchen into a simple living wall using a grid system I built from lumber and hardware cloth. Planted it with herbs and some trailing plants. The height is perfect for someone in a wheelchair, and the natural light from the window keeps everything healthy.
The psychological benefits have been significant. Having living, growing things at eye level throughout the house makes a real difference in mood, especially during Michigan’s long gray winters. It’s not just having plants around – it’s having them integrated into the living space in a way that makes them part of your daily environment.
I’ve read studies about how exposure to plants reduces stress and improves well-being, particularly for older adults. Makes sense from my own experience. There’s something calming about having greenery in your peripheral vision throughout the day.
## Learning from Larger Projects
Singapore has apparently made vertical gardens a major part of their city planning – they call it becoming a “City in a Garden.” I’ve never been there, but I’ve seen photos online of how they’ve integrated living walls into high-rise buildings and public spaces. It’s impressive how they’ve made nature part of the urban infrastructure rather than just an add-on.
What I find encouraging about these larger projects is that they prove the concept can work at scale. If architects and engineers can make living walls function in skyscrapers with all their HVAC systems and structural challenges, then smaller residential applications should be very manageable.
I’ve been following some community garden projects in Detroit where they’ve added vertical growing systems to make better use of limited space. Even in areas where traditional green space is scarce, these installations provide a connection to nature that residents respond to positively.
The climate change aspect is something I think about more these days. Vertical gardens help with urban heat reduction and provide habitat for birds and beneficial insects even in dense urban areas. Every little bit helps, and if more buildings incorporated living walls, the cumulative effect could be significant.
## Practical Next Steps
If you’re considering a vertical garden, my advice is to start small and learn what works in your specific situation. A simple herb wall in the kitchen or a small living wall in a bathroom with good natural light can be a good test case.
For indoor installations, focus on reliable plants that can handle your home’s specific conditions – temperature fluctuations, light levels, humidity from cooking or showering. Don’t get seduced by exotic plants that look amazing but require constant attention.
Think about maintenance realistically. Can you water regularly? Do you have someone to check on plants when you travel? Are you prepared to deal with occasional pest issues or plant failures?
Consider the practical benefits for your household. Could wall-mounted plants provide fresh herbs for cooking? Would having more greenery at eye level improve daily mood and well-being? Could it make better use of available light and space?
Vertical gardens aren’t just a design trend – they’re a practical way to bring more nature into spaces where traditional gardening isn’t feasible. For those of us aging in place, they offer a way to maintain that connection to growing things without the physical demands of ground-level gardening. And in urban areas where green space is limited, they’re a smart solution for getting more plants into daily life.
The key is approaching them practically, starting small, and focusing on what actually works rather than what looks impressive in photos.
Robert is a retired engineer in Michigan who’s spent the past few years adapting his longtime home for accessibility and wellbeing. He writes about practical, DIY ways to make homes more comfortable and life-affirming as we age — from raised-bed gardens to better natural light.
