TIPS FOR VERTICAL GARDENING

Don’t overlook the gateway and your garden entrance - With a little creativity the entrance can be made into a beautiful creative vertical garden. An attractive gate or entrance adds character, and is very welcoming for visitors and can become a real showpiece.

photo: toddhaimanlandscapedesign2015

How Permanent Should your Vertical Structure be? This depends on whether or not you own the property and your future plans for it. This is also depends upon whether there are local ordinances, restrictions, codes. Generally you should choose lightweight materials that are easily removed.

photo:buildapedia

Check for shade and the availability of direct sun – Understand the direction the wall faces.  Based upon that you will have a better understanding of the amount of light the site offers. Remember a south-facing wall receives full sun, while a north facing wall mostly shade. Vertical gardens are less vulnerable to frost, but may be more vulnerable to wind. Grow shade tolerant plants long periods of shade throughout the day.

Choose your plant wisely - The best plants are those that are suitable for growing in dense clusters, that tolerate shade well and periodic drying. Many plants need to have airflow around them to mitigate fungal diseases, so keep that in mind when the vertical wall becomes a lush verdant wall. It may be time to do a bit of thinning. Vines and creepers work well but avoid species that become unmanageable and difficult to prune and control.

Make best use of vertical structures for attachment - The best way to set up a wall garden or vertical garden is to fix the pots or frames to a wall or fence. If you can’t, or don't want to drill into a wall or fence, the pots can be attached to chains dangling down the walls. You can also hang the planters from hooks or install frames to support the garden. Then design the plant.  Plants are phototropic. They grow directly to the sun, which means your vine wants to grow to the open sky. If you want the entire wall covered, try to take the first leaders and affix them horizontally.  The vine will then make a 90-degree turn and direct itself to the sun.

photo:inhabitat

Think carefully about the height and strength of the structure - Make sure that the wall and fence and the attachment points are strong and solid. They have to support the garden at all stages of its development. Remember that the vegetation will get heavier and heavier as the garden develops. Planters can get very heavy when filled with wet soil after heavy rain showers. Don't make the garden too high for easy care and maintenance.

photo:inhabitat

Be well aware of the maximum height the plants are likely to grow to when mature - This will affect the kind of structure you choose and will also affect accessibility for pruning, watering, fertilizing and various maintenance tasks. Consider how high you can comfortably reach! Also consider how you are going to trim, prune and maintain the plants as they grow.

EXAMPLES + IDEAS FOR BUILDING A VERTICAL GARDEN

BROOKLYN BROWNSTONES: SMALL GARDEN DESIGN

Brooklyn garden design is garden planning for a relatively small, private space. 

Typical building plots average 100’ long by 20’ wide for Brooklyn brownstone properties and Brooklyn townhouse properties. Many of these brownstone yards are 40'-55' deep.  Some have a terrace overlooking the yard. These small, but charming "jewelry box" size backyards with fences can become highly developed areas behind the house.  This private area can be designed based upon functionality and programming.  Some people want a private, serene area to use for relaxation and the enjoyment of weekend breakfast on the patio; others want a safe space for their unsupervised children to play in.  A clever garden design can usually tick all the boxes of your wish list.   Whether you create a vegetable garden or a garden retreat a garden designer can assist you.

Designing a garden begins with a plan.

Tucked away in the heart of the metropolis, these small sanctuaries of verdant nature are enclosed by fences and large apartment buildings.  Challenges such as noise, lack of sunlight (at times), pollution and the eyes of curious neighbors all make these “giardino segrettos” (secret gardens) very difficult to create without a solid garden design plan.  With a carefully designed garden plan, the lack of outward views will no longer be a limiting factor, rather an opportunity to take advantage of.  Just think of all the beautiful medieval cloister gardens!

A garden design plan takes into account the opportunities and constraints of a site.

Some design solutions for difficult environments such as intrusive neighbors would be a vertical landscape design, in essence a vegetative screen.  Harsh climates and microclimates can be addressed with native plants and understanding your plant zones. If a certain plant is “tender” it can be situated on a southern exposure close to the residence. Radiant heat of the building and obstruction of strong winds will temper freezing effects a few degrees.

Maintenance of a custom garden design.

Find garden inspiration for your brooklyn garden design by looking at contemporary garden design photos.  It’s critical to remember that the gardening design should depend upon your lifestyle.  People with hectic lifestyles may need to consider low maintenance gardens if they are not going to practice garden maintenance themselves or hire a garden maintenance company.

You can choose a garden style from among the many types, such as:

Zen garden design

Romantic garden design

Exuberant garden design

Contemporary garden design

Potager garden design

Classic garden design

Exotic garden design

Whether it’s one of these styles or a combination you should have a garden design that works!

The design should:

• Define the principal walkway and circulation

• Create transitions by variations in level or material or perspective

• Define garden rooms

• Incorporate garden “nooks” to add complexity

• Work with the surrounding landscape

• Solve existing challenges

• Address your needs and aspirations

Ideas for a Brooklyn garden design are endless.  The ultimate goal is to turn your small backyard, patio or balcony into an "oasis."

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HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO HIRE A LANDSCAPE DESIGNER?

Good question! It really depends upon the size of your budget and the complexity of the job that you want accomplished.  As with many professions, landscape design costs tend to vary according to the size of the project and your location. As a landscape designer in New York City, costs for landscape design and garden design are proportional to the cost of living in this metropolitan area.

The landscape design plan becomes the roadmap to move forward, where every connection will be made above and below ground. If the project is installed immediately or in phases, it becomes the single document that tells each contractor what the others will be doing today or years down the road. Whether you build it all now or spread installation over many years, always design your entire project up front.

You cannot estimate the cost of a job until you have a plan.

Regardless of the cost of implementing the landscape design plan, it’s essence should remain true.  Once you have a garden design or landscape design plan finalized it can be distilled down or embellished based upon your allocation. It should be a custom job suited to you and only you. Your lifestyle, your family, your needs, your aspirations. It should address the challenges that you presently have.  Whether it’s a small job or a grand job.  Whether it’s $5,000 or $500,000.

The Landscaping Network offers “that if you have to compromise to achieve a budget, consider changes in materials or creative use of lesser expensive and readily available materials first. The overall layout of the design should be the last thing to be modified, because if the designer has done a good job, this layout will be the optimal solution for your lifestyle and the site.

As the term suggests, a garden designer drafts a design for how your new landscape will look. Drawings are produced (including 3D) so you can see how your garden will look before any of the actual work begins so you are not left disappointed on completion.

Garden design costs in Park Slope, Brooklyn Heights, Carroll Gardens or Cobble Hill are proportional to the cost of living in that metropolitan area. 

A landscape design in Greenwich, Connecticut is proportional to the cost of living in that suburban location. 

In terms of total costs, a landscape designer’s service may cost between $1,500 and $6,000 for a landscape design plan.  The larger the garden, the more the designer is likely to charge. Some properties encompassing a swimming pool, tennis court and large acreage may incur a total cost of $7,500 or more. This is because the landscape designer will need to spend more time drawing and/or implementing a design for a larger space.

Services provided thereafter such as designer correspondence, on-site visits during construction, project management, budgeting, planning and implementation of the design are usually charged by the hour. On average, these services may cost around $60 - $200, again depending on the designer’s individual fee structure.

There will be immense improvements in the way you will live and experience your home – even in terms of the returns on reselling. While garden design may seem like a luxury, it’s a crucial aspect to building, renovating or improving any home. No different than the services of an architect or interior designer. And you may be surprised by just how much value a garden designer can add to your real estate asset.

HGTV states—“Know what you want to spend and talk budget up front with your landscape professional.  If you're unsure what to budget, the American Society of Landscape Architects suggests to start with 5 percent to 10 percent of your home's worth. The good news: a good landscape design can add as much as 15 percent to the value of your home compared to other houses on your street.”

HOW MUCH SUN IS CONSIDERED FULL SUN?

As a New York City garden designer I first take analysis of a site before designing. My recommendation as a garden designer is to first observe how the sun moves through your property during the course of a day. Take notes.   

Full sun is considered to be over 6 hours of unobstructed light each day.

Partial sun ranges between 3 and 6 hours, and shade is considered to be less than 3 hours of light each day. Typically, the sunniest areas will be the west and south sides of your home unless shaded by large trees or other buildings. The best way to determine sun levels for the area in question is to check it every hour on a sunny day.

One of my garden design tricks as a professional garden designer is to document the garden via photographs with my iPhone at various times of the day.  Having a visual record can sometimes be an effective reference. 

HOW TO HIRE A LANDSCAPE DESIGNER

Similar to an architect or interior designer, a landscape designer can can assist you with understanding spacial relationships, aesthetics, circulation, programming, and other challenges. Remember garden designers and landscape designers are experts in their field.

Whom to hire depends on several factors: your budget, timeline and project's size and complexity. You should inquire about their landscape design and horticultural training. Ask for referrals. The ultimate litmus test, though, is how you get along. Is the person receptive to your ideas, goals and project schedule? Can you communicate with each other?  Can they be an advocate for you in project managing the job?

WHY HIRE A LANDSCAPE DESIGNER?

HELP WITH LANDSCAPE DESIGN

LANDSCAPE DESIGN DILEMMAS.

It begins with.. “I need help with landscape design.”

The questions include How do I turn my front garden into an inviting entrance?  What do I plant in a shade garden?  Can I plant grass?  I need help designing a dog friendly yard.  Can a stone garden wall look contemporary?  Do I need to build a retaining wall for a my sloping backyard?  What’s the best way to decorate a garden room? My side garden has no sun, can I still make it a perennial garden bed?  What color do I paint my garden walls and shed?  How do I build a zen garden?  What pavers would you use for a rooftop terrace garden, vertical garden or roof garden?  Can we use modern landscaping ideas for a small garden?  How can I achieve privacy from my neighbors?

The answer to all these questions is to begin with a plan. A garden design plan or a landscape design master plan for your property.

Why a design plan?

Think holistically. Recognize the interconnectedness of indoor space with outdoor space and its possibilities

First you must take inventory of your needs, aspirations and challenges of the site.  Consider your lifestyle, short term plans and long term plans for your family and property. Who are the users of the space and will that change. What about programming? (Will you be entertaining, using it as playspace for kids, installing a pool, kitchen garden, cutting garden and so on…)

Very seldom does a home builder or architect give the same thought and consideration to the outdoor home surroundings than they do to the interior of the home.  We enter a home the moment we set foot on the property, and not when we cross the threshold into the residence.

Residential landscape design is not foundation planting, it is not merely beautification with pretty plants, it is the integration of house and site, custom designed for you. 
 

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