How to Convert a Chain Link to a Living Garden Wall

What Is a Living Wall

• The term "living wall" refers to a specific way of growing plants in a vertical arrangement. The wall is made up of individual plants, each of which has its own portion of soil or growing medium from which it gets its nutrients. Living walls should not be confused with such things as ivy-covered walls. Ivies, and other plants used to cover external walls, have their roots in the ground and merely use the wall for support as they grow. The plants that make up a living wall are suspended on the wall in their own containers.

Containers

• You can buy commercially made containers for living walls, some of which are stainless steel and affix to walls or fences, and others are of a fabric-type of material constructed from recycled plastics and have grommets that allow you to mount them on fences. It's also possible to make your own plant containers using cut-down milk cartons and jugs, or yoghurt pots. Make drainage holes in the bottom of the containers and punch holes through which to thread securing wires.

Plants

• When choosing plants for your living wall, consider the location of your chain link fence and the reason you want a living wall. Purely decorative living walls may be comprised entirely of flowering plants, but you can also consider herbs, lettuces, vegetables and fruits. Bear in mind the depth of soil needed for vegetables as some, such as carrots, need much deeper soil than shallow-rooting plants such as lettuce.

Considerations

• As well as considering what type of plants to grow in a chain link fence living wall, you should also consider the environmental conditions surrounding the fence. All plants need water, so a nearby water supply is vital unless you are prepared to carry water to the wall at regular intervals. Consider also how much light the fence gets, whether it is mostly shaded (by nearby buildings, for example) and how securely the fence is anchored to the ground, since soil, compost and plants are heavy and you don't want to risk pulling the fence over.

Instructions for Making a Living Wall

• Use either purpose-made plant pockets or your own custom-made containers or plant pots. Make your own plant containers by drilling two holes, side by side, in the rim of plastic plant pots, or beneath the rims of yoghurt cartons. Add drainage holes in the bottom of homemade containers. Attach the plant containers to the chain link fence with zip ties, threading them through the holes in the containers or pockets and around the links in the fence. Pull the ties tight to hold the containers in place. Choose suitable full-size plants for the size of containers you have, then transfer the plants into the containers on the fence, adding potting compost as needed. Water the plants thoroughly and check on them often to keep them moist.