Original and aesthetic, the green wall dresses our exteriors
If your exterior walls do not please you anymore and you want to add a touch of greenery and a little freshness, why not install a green wall? It is gaining popularity and convinces individuals and companies who want to bring their facades back to life. Thanks to its many assets, the plant wall is suitable for all environments. Customizable according to your desires, it adapts to different climates and brings comfort and well-being.
The green wall has not always had a good reputation. Many did not like climbing plants to invade the walls and even saw it as a problem. Their roots damaged the materials, letting the moisture in through the wall.
A real plus for ecology
In recent years, the green wall has gradually imposed itself. Many find many benefits, including an ecological. The vegetal wall designed for outdoor landscaping provides thermal and sound insulation over a period of 30 to 50 years thanks to its bushy texture. Its installation ensures the regulation of the temperature inside your building without energy expenditure related to air conditioning or heating.
Installing a green wall is also beneficial for the environment. Your plants will retain the water flowing from the roofs, thus avoiding flooding and, in the longer term, the waterproofing of soils. They will also cool the atmosphere to limit the warming of concrete and asphalt in urban areas. You also contribute to improving air quality and reducing pollution by absorbing airborne particles.
A saving of space and time
While urban gardens are becoming smaller, and in some cases even reduced to simple balconies, installing a wall or vertical garden seems like a real solution to enjoy at the same time the greenery and a saving of space. Your mini-garden will not encumber the space and you will not suffer any backache since you will be able to garden vertically. Maintaining your plants will never have been easier, and you'll save valuable time.
Indeed, once your plant wall is installed, maintenance will no longer be a problem. In terms of water and energy, your installation is autonomous and the choice of plants gives it durability. The water reserve is returned to the plants according to their needs thanks to a tank with a volume of 50 to 200 liters concealed. There is also no risk of moisture transfer. However, be sure to stock your plants with fertilizer because their roots need nutrients to grow. Pruning and weeding each quarter is also recommended.
A work of art
The green wall will bring a touch of originality to your exterior and will play an aesthetic role by dressing your unsightly facade. It can evolve with the seasons or your desires while continuing to bring you comfort, calm and well-being. Your anonymous facade will gain cachet thanks to the harmonious and colorful aspect of your vertical garden. As for your balcony, the green wall will bring freshness and cheerfulness.
A house creation
Nothing requires you to hire a professional to create your plant wall. Systems, from the simplest to the most sophisticated, exist. To create your own wall at a low price, all you need is a wooden pallet, a waterproof and resistant geotextile as well as staples. Then all that remains is to install the potting soil and plants. Green wall kits are also available and include wall-mounted modules, compost, fertilizer, a water tank and plants.
Several techniques exist to build your plant wall depending on the type of plants you want to grow. If your preference is for dry vegetation, such as cacti, the "rock gardens" will make you happy. If you want more flowering and greener vegetation, the "plant engineering" method is the solution. This technique allows optimized growth. Whichever option you choose, always watch for brightness.
If, however, you want a larger wall of plants, it is recommended to seek the help of a specialist. The latter can design a wall tailored to your aesthetic requirements, with plants adapted to the chosen location.
What materials?
The lifespan of a plant wall is usually 10 years. Only the materials used to build it can limit it. To set up a wall of plants, you can install substrates based on peat and sphagnum, coconut fiber or horticultural felt. These surfaces are able to distribute water and nutrients to the plants. Sphagnum Chile, widely used as a substrate, is antibacterial and antifungal. It can redistribute up to 14 times its volume of water according to the needs of the plants. On the panel side, PVC and polystyrene have some success. As for the wood, it brings to your installation a more rustic side.
For all places, or almost
Few constraints exist regarding the installation of exterior green walls. A priori, all locations may be suitable. However, exposure to the sun should be taken into account.If plants are usually designed to live in the open air and can accommodate the green wall, all do not have the same needs for light or heat. Preferably opt for a location corresponding to the plants you have chosen, or plan plants that suit the climatic conditions of the proposed site.
Also plan to group plants according to their needs for water and light. The most greedy plants should be at the top of your wall. In terms of brightness, three types exist: the plants of shade, half shade and sun. For example, ferns or bromeliads are to be reserved in the south because of their need for heat. Sage, rosemary and thyme are also in the third category, while ivy, campanula or perennial geranium bear the shade well enough.
Which varieties to choose?
If you want to green your exterior wall, the selected plants will play an important role in the aesthetic rendering. In addition to exposure to the sun, other technical constraints may influence your choice, such as the irrigation system. It is important to know how plants and plants work in their natural state to reproduce at home.
The most used plants are plants that are suitable for growing above ground: climbing plants such as jasmine or ivy, depolluting plants such as ficus or fern, exotic plants such as hibiscus and finally aromatics that is to say mint, thyme, basil and parsley .
Climbing plants are to watch. They must not reach your roof or plug your gutters under penalty of water damage. As in nature, the natural cycles of plants are subject to seasonal changes. The appearance of your plant wall is therefore brought to evolve.