10 Ideas for Vertical Gardening
Looking for vertical gardening ideas? You’ve come to the right place. There are as many ways to add vertical space to your garden as there are reasons to do it.
Some reasons I love to grow vertically include:
- Adding vertical gardening space gives you extra room when space is limited.
- Plants are healthier when grown vertically because it is easier to discover pests and problems earlier.
- Gardening vertically allows more sunlight and air to reach the plant which helps the plant be more productive.
- Growing plants vertically adds beauty to the space and can hide unsightly areas of your yard.
- It is easier to find and harvest fruits from plants grown vertically.
Keep in mind when growing vertically:
- To maximize sunlight, position the trellis on the north edge of your garden bed or next to a fence or wall.
- Alternatively, shade sun-sensitive plants in hotter regions by having the trellis on the south or west side, filtering the sunlight for plants that need relief from the sun.
Keep reading for vertical gardening ideas and my 10 favorite ways to add vertical space to your garden.
Disclaimer: this post contains affiliate links. See my disclosure policy for more information.
Vertical gardening idea #1: Add vertical space with ladders
I love repurposing vintage items like ladders in the garden. Ladders are an easy way to add architectural interest and vertical space to your garden. Want more information? Check out this article about ladders in the garden.
Vertical gardening idea #2: Use Jardin Rose Arches from Gardener's
The Jardin Rose Arch from Gardener’s Supply Company is an easy and beautiful way to grow vertically. I used 2 arches to create a walk-way effect into my garden.
The arches are made from durable powder-coated steel, and assemble without any tools. I love the simplicity of the design, and the arches provide practical support for different types of climbing plants.
Vertical gardening idea #3: Add vertical space to your garden with wall-mounted rebar trellises
If you can weld (or know someone who does), these wall-mounted rebar trellises are an inexpensive way to add vertical space to your garden.
Add several small trellises to create an arch. I’m hoping this container-grown rose fills in the space beautifully.
Vertical gardening idea #4: Add vertical space to your garden with ladder mesh block
One of the most versatile, quick and inexpensive ways to easily add vertical space in the garden is using ladder mesh blocks.
Plants love growing vertically up the repurposed trellis, and it’s easy to install anywhere in the garden. Read more about using them in this article.
Vertical gardening idea #5: Use Vertex tomato cages
I often grow indeterminate tomatoes, and my plants typically reach 8 feet high. Using these Vertex tomato cages is a great way to support the tomatoes as they grow vertically.
I love the tall Vertex tomato cage because it is over 6 feet tall (installed) with large pockets to support the tomato as it climbs, even if the gardener isn’t paying attention.
The standard size Vertex tomato cage is perfect for determinate tomatoes (like Roma). There is plenty of room inside the cage for the plant to grow, and the branches are easily supported by the cage.
Vertical gardening idea #6: Build it yourself with electrical conduit and wire mesh panels
These trellises are an adaptation from Mel of Square Foot Gardening. It is simple to build the size you need.
- Pound 2 foot rebar into ground about a foot deep.
- Slide electrical conduit over the rebar. (Most home improvement stores will cut the electrical conduit for you.)
- Fit pieces of conduit together using plumbing fittings.
- Can be built as a single trellis or as the multi-paneled one seen here.
- Use cattle panel for the trellis. The panels can be cut to size using a bolt cutter.
- Attach the cattle panel to the electrical conduit with metal zip-ties.
Vertical gardening idea #7: Try wall-mounted wire mesh panels
These wall-mounted garden screen trellises from Two Brothers Metal Works here in Arizona are a great addition to the garden.
Vertical gardening idea #8: Add vertical space to your garden with cattle panel between beds
One of the simplest ways to use cattle panels is to prop them between your raised beds, creating a low arch between the beds. This is an easy way to keep vegetables off the ground.
Vertical gardening idea #9: Add vertical space to your garden with rebar trellises
After I added these raised beds, I needed something to allow the plants to climb and a way to provide shade in the summer. (I attach shade cloth to the top of this trellis in the summer.) My neighbor brainstormed with me about the design and then he welded these trellises. They are a great addition to the garden.
Vertical gardening idea #10: Use what you have on hand and a little imagination to grow vertically
I had never seen a ladder, ladder mesh block, or rebar trellises used in the garden before, but I used the materials available to me to add vertical space to my garden.
Look around your garden, house, and yard – is there something that you could use to grow vertically in the garden? Give it a try! Let me know in the comments some of the ways you garden vertically.
Vicki Alger
Wednesday 21st of September 2022
Hi, Angela--I live in South Scottsdale, and over the next 12-18 months my husband and I plan to build wooden vertical planters and attach them to our backyard block walls. We'll be adding shade covers for all of them, as well as a drip watering system. Aside from strawberries and seasonal herbs, would you please recommend vegetables that would do well in this type of vertical garden? Thanks very much!
Angela Judd
Thursday 22nd of September 2022
This blogpost lists several of my favorite vertical crops: https://growinginthegarden.com/vertical-gardening-10-vegetables-that-love-to-climb/
Lucy
Friday 2nd of July 2021
Hi -Do you treat the rebar before adding it to the walls to avoid the staining from the rebates?
Angela Judd
Sunday 4th of July 2021
I haven't, no.
Laura M.
Saturday 15th of May 2021
Hello. Where can I buy the small individual square trellises in image #3? I want to create an arch as well on my backyard wall.
Angela Judd
Tuesday 18th of May 2021
These were made out of rebar by a local welder.
Elle Dee
Saturday 24th of April 2021
It's difficult for me to find cattle panel in the area. What do you recommend to use instead?
Angela Judd
Sunday 25th of April 2021
I've used this string netting between poles many times. It is surprisingly strong. https://amzn.to/3dQD6bG
Juno
Friday 2nd of October 2020
Love the idea to build a trellis with metal conduit and cattle panel. What kind of plumbing fitting did you use to connect the joints? I'm having trouble finding something with the correct diameter.
Angela Judd
Sunday 4th of October 2020
They are simple plumbing fittings on electrical conduit. They don't fit perfectly on (or screw on) but they stay in place pretty well. I would take your conduit to the plumbing aisle and find one that slides on but is snug. Hope that helps.