Vertical garden service
The maintenance of a vertical garden is a crucial task. Without it, even the most well-thought-out and assembled green wall can deteriorate due to neglect. Here, we explain the necessary maintenance activities and describe how to perform them.
Cleaning the vertical garden
1. Cleaning the garden from plant residues
Cleaning the garden from plant residues involves removing dying or dried plant elements from the vertical garden’s surface. This task should be repeated as often as necessary, usually about once a month.
2. Cleaning the plants from dust
Cleaning the leaves from accumulating dust involves wiping off the residue from the surface of the leaves. To perform this task quickly, you can use a plant gloss in combination with a liquid fertilizer. This combination causes the dust to naturally flow off the leaves, cleaning them. Cleaning is usually done once a month, but there may be occasions when the plants need to be cleaned more frequently.
3. Periodic gutter cleaning
Please remember that plants on a vertical garden grow both upwards and downwards. They develop stems, leaves, but also roots. It may happen that after some time, the roots of the plants start to grow into the drainage gutter. This can result in clogging the drainage and causing water to overflow into the room. We recommend checking the gutter’s clearance manually at least every 3 months. If necessary, you should clean the drain and remove any roots.
4. Periodic tank cleaning
For a closed-loop tank, it should be cleaned at least once every 3 months. If you notice that it’s dirty, clean it earlier. Deposits or impurities can clog the drippers and alter the pH of the water.
5. Cleaning and checking the pump
When cleaning the tank, you should also clean the pump and check if it’s functioning correctly. If there is suspicion that the pump might not be working, it should be inspected as well. If necessary, replace the pump as soon as possible.
6. Cleaning the felt
The felt used to make the panels acts as a filter during watering. Water flowing through the felt may contain substances that, under unfavorable conditions such as high humidity, lack of air movement, or poor lighting, can accumulate on the felt’s surface, creating a white deposit. Of course, it’s not mold, and the deposit is not harmful in any way. However, for aesthetics, it may require cleaning. Simply wipe it with a damp sponge, and the deposit will come off. After cleaning, it’s best to ensure proper ventilation of the room. It also happens that, after replacing the plants, you may need to refresh the panel surfaces. This can be done with a damp sponge and a small amount of dishwashing liquid.
Other servicing activities
Pruning plants
We recommend thoroughly understanding the selection of species on the green wall and pruning the plants according to the art of gardening specific to each species. Pay attention to pruning the plants in a way that prevents them from shading each other over time. When a plant becomes overgrown by its neighboring plant, it will begin to lack access to light, leading to its decline.
Pruning plants is one of the most important maintenance tasks and should be performed regularly, at least once a month.
Periodic replacement of drippers
The garden uses shading compensation drippers. In the case of an open water circulation garden, they should be replaced at least once a year. In a closed system, it should be done every six months. It is essential to regularly check the proper operation of the watering system.
Plant replacement
Plant replacement is very simple and takes just a few minutes. You only need to remove the plant you want to replace from the pocket and unwind its root ball. After purchasing the new plant, take it out of the pot, shake off excess soil, and use the recovered root ball to wrap it as shown in the video. Then, place the prepared plant back into the empty pocket.
Additional service activities
Lighting adjustment
It can happen that the vertical garden will require adjustments to the lighting duration. The amount of natural light indoors changes throughout the year. In the summer months, there’s usually more light compared to the winter months. In well-lit indoor environments, sometimes, you can turn off the artificial lighting during the summer months. However, remember to switch it back on during the winter months.
If you notice that your plants are growing too slowly, you should increase the amount of lighting. If they are growing too quickly, you should reduce it. The typical lighting duration for plants is usually between 3 to 12 hours a day. More information on this topic can be found on the vertical garden lighting page.
Adjusting Irrigation Time
Please keep in mind that the indoor conditions throughout the year can change. This includes fluctuations in temperature, humidity, and lighting. In the autumn, as we start heating our homes, it often leads to changes in the environment around the green wall. This may cause water to evaporate more quickly from the plants, ultimately resulting in them drying out. The opposite situation can occur in the spring months.
After familiarizing yourself with the irrigation controller’s instructions, it’s important to adjust the watering schedule to the current conditions. During the season, there may also be situations that require changes in the watering duration. It’s essential to regularly monitor the soil’s moisture levels near the plants. Learn more about watering your green wall.
Fertilizing the Plants
To ensure that the vertical garden grows correctly, it should be regularly supplied with fertilizers containing nutrients in addition to water and light. Most often, slow-release fertilizers are added during the preparation of plants for the root wrap. These fertilizers break down over approximately 12 months. After this period, regular fertilization of the plants should begin. Fertilization can be done either foliarly or through an installed dosing system. It is important to fertilize the plants regularly during the summer months (from spring to autumn). Water-soluble fertilizers should be used. Vertical gardens thrive on fertilizers with a high and balanced level of nutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium).
Adding water to the tank (in the case of a closed-loop system)
To ensure that the plants can be watered and to prevent damage to the pump, you should top up the water tank to full at least once a week. It may be necessary to add water more frequently. You should monitor the water level in the tank.
Mobile vertical garden service
Mobile vertical garden modules are structures in various sizes that require regular servicing. The tasks described earlier on the page are the necessary maintenance procedures. This film briefly shows what servicing a portable green wall looks like in practice. Module maintenance includes trimming and dusting the plants and fertilizing them. It also involves tank maintenance—refilling, replacing, and cleaning the water. If a pump is used in the module, it should also be cleaned and its functionality checked. If the mobile vertical garden is not watering, the drip emitters should be checked for clogs and replaced if necessary. These and other maintenance tasks are demonstrated in the videos below.
Service Questions
How long does a vertical garden live?
Well-tended potted plants can survive in homes for many years. Similarly, a properly cared for vertical garden will have a lifespan like that of potted plants.
Will the vertical garden survive without servicing?
If the vertical garden is adequately illuminated and has a constant water supply, regular servicing will keep it thriving for many years. However, if plant care is infrequent or absent, plants will typically need to be replaced after 3-4 years. Under favorable conditions, the plants grow rapidly. When not pruned on time, they begin to overshadow each other, which often leads to their demise.
How long does vertical garden servicing take?
Most often, servicing is not very demanding, and it doesn’t take long at once. It should be performed regularly. Regularity determines the quality and the amount of work we need to put into it. The more frequently we service the garden, the shorter each session will be. Servicing small, well-maintained walls (2-8m2) can be done in a matter of minutes to a dozen or so minutes. Larger walls often require more time. Servicing tall gardens usually takes the longest, often due to the need to set up scaffolding.
How often should vertical garden maintenance be performed?
A vertical garden should be regularly serviced. It is most commonly done once a month. Of course, every green wall should be monitored, and if we notice that something is not right, we should perform maintenance more often. It is important to assess the situation sensibly.
Can I perform professional maintenance on a vertical garden by myself?
Yes, you can successfully perform maintenance on your garden yourself. With a bit of willingness and proper training, anyone can carry out professional maintenance on a vertical garden. It’s quite straightforward. The most important thing is to familiarize yourself with the preferences of the plants used and service them regularly. Consistency and the appropriate frequency of maintenance are the best ways to keep your living wall beautiful and healthy for as long as possible.
Since when should I start taking care of the vertical garden?
Maintenance of the living wall should begin as early as one month after the garden installation. Plants undergo a slight stress and need about a month to “recover” right after being planted. Initially, following installation on the vertical garden, individual leaves may turn yellow and die. In the early stages, some stems may become limp. Occasionally, a plant may even “fall out.” However, these are typically isolated occurrences or none at all. During the initial phase, it is necessary to clean the vertical garden more frequently of plant debris, and in some cases, replace individual specimens. After the adaptation period, the maintenance will be less demanding, and usually, once a month is sufficient.
What should I pay particular attention to during the garden maintenance?
In the care of a green wall, the most important thing is its regularity and the appropriate frequency of maintenance.
What tasks should I perform during the maintenance of a garden connected to the water supply network?
- Cleaning the garden from plant debris
- Dusting off leaves
- Trimming plants
- Periodic replacement of drip emitters
- Periodic fertilization
- Periodic cleaning of the main gutter from roots
- Potential irrigation adjustment
- Potential lighting adjustment
- Potential felt cleaning
What tasks should I perform during the maintenance of a vertical garden with a reservoir and a pump?
- Cleaning the garden from plant debris
- Dusting off leaves
- Trimming plants
- Adding water to the reservoir
- Periodic replacement of drip emitters
- Periodic fertilization
- Periodic cleaning of the reservoir
- Monitoring and cleaning the pump
- Potential irrigation adjustment
- Potential lighting adjustment
- Potential plant replacement
- Potential felt cleaning