The Master Gardener’s Bookshelf
Garden Up! Smart Vertical Gardening for Small and Large Spaces by Susan Morrison and Rebecca Sweet
Review by Susan Wilhelm, Extension Master Gardener
Vertical gardening is often described as growing plants on a structure such as a trellis or wall to take advantage of what otherwise would be empty vertical space. However, as Susan Morrison and Rebecca Sweet illustrate in Gardening Up! Smart Vertical Gardening for Small and Large Spaces, it can be much more. Gardening Up starts by demonstrating the many uses of arbors and trellises, such as breaking up large spaces, creating nooks, or maximizing curb appeal, all while offering another place to garden. Other topics include layered plantings appropriate for narrow spaces such as a side yard or courtyard. There are vertical gardening options for balconies, for courtyards (small townhouse gardens) and for growing vegetables as well as ornamental plants. Design Spotlights throughout provide real life examples illustrated by before and after photos.
In addition to design ideas, Gardening Up! has lots of practical information on how to implement vertical gardening strategies. For example, the authors discuss the placement of arbors and trellises and different types of materials for making them. There are suggestions for dealing with wind when planting on a balcony and for small fruit tree and vegetable varieties appropriate for courtyard plantings. For those interested in growing food vertically, there are several plans for vegetable container gardens, and strategies for creating edible landscapes pairing edibles and ornamental plants.
Morrison and Sweet say that the ultimate form of vertical gardening is the living wall. They describe the construction and care of several types of living walls, including both soilless systems where plants grow hydroponically, and prefabricated or pocket systems where plants grow in soil. They write that a prefabricated wall system where soil holds both the plant’s roots and water is less complex, less costly, and easier to maintain than a soilless system. They also address plant choices, watering, growing conditions, and overwintering, noting that living walls require more maintenance than a typical container planting.
The authors also describe DIY projects that can be built in a day or weekend, such as building hanging planters made with PVC pipe, and wall planters made from gutters or wire-mesh hanging baskets. The book includes instructions for a wooden potato condo for growing these usually underground vegetables vertically. (You could also try this in a bag.) Additionally, there are many creative ideas for using “found” objects, for example making a trellis from an old wooden ladder or metal bedframe.
Morrison and Sweet are based in Northern California. They make clear that not all the plants they recommend are appropriate for every region and note that some may be considered invasive in certain areas of the country. Therefore, they advise checking your state’s invasive plant list before planting species with which the reader is not familiar. Readers may also consult Master Gardeners of Northern Virginia resources such as Tried and True Native Plant Selections for the Mid-Atlantic, and Invasive Plants and Better Alternatives to identify native plants appropriate for our area that serve the same purpose as plants mentioned in the book.
Garden Up! Smart Vertical Gardening for Small and Large Spaces by Susan Morrison and Rebecca Sweet (Cool Spring Press, 2011) is a useful resource for gardeners interested in exploring options for vertical gardening, looking for design inspiration for small spaces, or who want to get more out of their vegetable garden. It is available at the Alexandria Public Library, the Arlington Public Library, the Fairfax County Library, and from national booksellers.