Planting styles
The most evident planting style attempts to reconstruct a
plant community indigenous
to the location. Typically, they have relatively modest decorative value and in an urban
setting they do not cope as well as the more resistant weed species, however, the particular
importance of them is that these plants fit in most with the principle of biodiversity. When
such style is chosen in our climate, the almost completely bare winter condition needs to be
made friends with!
The vertical gardens that are constructed to
imitate nature
provide a more designed solution. In this case, indigenous or exotic, deciduous or evergreen
plants can be used. In such cases the plants are placed randomly into the system, then after
a while there will be some species that develop and some that die. The dominant conditions
change continuously; therefore the overall image of the wall will also change.
Modular systems provide solutions for facades depicting
figurative
images, logos and different patterns. These no longer try to copy nature; these are the
vertical version of the built garden in the traditional sense of the word. The different
gardening styles can be reproduced just as in a traditional garden.
The most intensive application is the vertical version of
flowerbeds
, where the continuous winter-summer flower show can be ensured by swapping annual and
bi-annual plants.
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Vegetation types
Climbers – without a support structure
Ivy
(Hedera species): a very low demanding evergreen plant, although in hard frosts it can lose
its leaves. Little nutrient is required, it can be planted in sun, half-shade or shade, but
in a windy position its development is slow. There are many species with deep green or
variegated leaves and various shapes. The copious leaves can grow up to 15 cm in size,
covering each other. It uses its aerial roots to climb the wall, forming a 10-20 cm thick
foliage.
Trumpet creeper
(Campsis species): it can climb up to 8-10 meters height with its tendrils. It has large,
orange, yellow or red-cupped flowers from July to September in clusters. It has average
water requirements and likes rich soil. It favours sunny and warm position. It can develop a
considerable mass of foliage in both volume and weight, standing some 1-2 meters from the
wall. The stems may die back in winter.
Boston ivy
(Parthenocissus species): It develops cohesive thin foliage on the façade. Many subspecies
exist, the shape and colour of the leaves as well as the growth orientation of the species
is the main difference. The autumnal colours of the leaves are very decorative. It can climb
up to 20 meters height. It is an undemanding plant, can cope with poor soil and tolerates
wide temperature variation. It can be planted to sunny, half-shady or shady positions,
although this shows some variations for the species. It uses suckers or tendrils to climb
the walls.
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Climbers – trained onto a support system
Climbing with tendrils: (clematis, wisteria, Dutchman’s pipe, Russian wine): Large species
and breed richness characterises this group. They can develop a significant weight of
foliage and some species have spectacular and attractive flowers. Deciduous plants.
Supported plants: (climbing roses, common beans): may require tying in
Winding or twisting: (honeysuckle, hops, morning glory Black-eyed Susan vine, silk vine): In
general the foliage is smaller in size than those climbing with tendrils. They have
characteristically decorative flowers, some are evergreen (facultative).
Cordons: (grapes): these require biding and for most species, intensive plant protection.
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Grasslands (mowed)
The grass provides a green surface in both winter and summer. It is popular and relatively
inexpensive, its operation is well understood, although it requires continuous mowing, which
on vertical surfaces is difficult to perform! Green walls tend to use grasses as mature
specimen plants or as a temporary decoration.
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Sedum
Typically a green area created based on the example of extensive green roofs, just
vertically. It requires little maintenance and minimal care. It tolerates drought well, and
only needs watering in extreme cases; therefore, in theory it could be an excellent choice
for low cost green walls. Unfortunately we are still waiting for a well-functioning
installation.
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Annual and bi-annual flowers
They can provide intense decoration, however it requires continuous replacements, so when
choosing the carrier system it has to be one that tolerates frequent replacement well (e.g.
greenwall.pro
).
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Perennials
They have a more modest and shorter flower show than the annual plants; however, the range
is wide in leaf colour and appearance. Application options are primarily defined by the
characteristics of the façade (orientation, exposure). The rockery plants cope well with
full sun, while the shady perennials are best positioned in more protected sites. The
herbaceous plants have small rooting zones and live for several years. They can be used in a
cassette system as replacing them is easy. Perennials typically live for 2-3 years, perhaps
to 10 years, and offer the best solution amongst the annuals and shrubs.
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Sub-shrubs
There are smaller and larger plants among them, which, due to their larger rooting zone
needs, are less usable than the perennials. As the majority of the species and varieties
grown tolerate our winters (and generally this climate) rather well, and they are long
lasting, they are still a very valuable group of the plants for green facades. Unfortunately
only a few systems can accommodate them. The
greenwall.pro
system is suitable for accommodating the medium and weak growing species-varieties.
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