Verti-Grow’s Living Wall Installation process and how to create a happy wall

​The first question to ask when planning any living wall project is how much sunlight will it receive, as this determines straight away the sustainability and suitability of which plants that can be used. Using the wrong plants for the conditions the living wall will have is a common mistake and one that cannot be rectified without replacing the plants for a more suitable selection or by adding artificial lighting. So careful planning and consideration are the cornerstone of a happy, lush and vibrant living wall.

During a site visit we will use a compass to find the direction the living wall will face and use this to estimate the amount and what level of sunlight it is likely to receive, for indoor walls the same applies but we will also use a light meter to take Lux level readings. Another thing to consider is exposure to the elements such as wind and the temperature decreasing and increasing. Once all these factors have been measured and estimated we then work with the client on a suitable plant list and planting schemes….

At Verti-Grow we use many different Living Wall systems and can provide whichever best suits a certain environment and/or budget. Felt pocket systems, Plastic Modular and Grodan based systems all have different attributes that can sometimes be better suited to different scenarios. Before starting the water and (if needed) power connections have to be ready. Then we install a supporting frame from whatever material is necessary depending on the system and weight it has to bear. Next step is the irrigation…

​Once a living wall system has been decided upon we then tailor make an irrigation system that is sufficient for the size and scale of a project. This can range from a simple battery operated tap timer to Wi-Fi connected, solar powered with rain harvesting systems. A favourite of ours and what we recommend to our clients are the Wi-FI connected control units that very easy to use and also offer offsite monitoring that allows any (unlikely) problems to be addressed instantly. Extra users can be added to allow customers to also keep an eye on their living art piece.

If the living Wall system is a pre-established unit such as the Bio-Tile then it’s a case of attaching the units to the living wall in the correct pattern. Otherwise we plant on site using a planting map drawn up from the scheme designed with the client.

The end result of all the above can produce amazing results such as these beauties….

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