Vertical spaces: 11 ideas for finding a place for plants in your garden or on the balcony

It would be nice to be able to leave the house and immediately find yourself immersed in nature, a small wood, perhaps with a thousand flowers and wonderful scents in the air. In short, it would be ideal to be surrounded by nature - but space is always a problem. However, where space is lacking - in the garden or on the balcony - this does not mean you cannot enjoy having a green corner. You just need to think vertically!

Planters erected close to the walls of the house or along the borders of the garden, as well as raised flower beds that run along the fence - these solutions will offer us the opportunity exploit our small spaces. Be inspired by the ideas listed below:

A sturdy, latticed frame secured to a wall or the fence, and flower pots mounted on it. This can form the bedrock of your vertical herb garden, for example.

Instead of a metal frame, you can make one from wood. You could use pallet wood, planks cut at a DIY store, or even use an old wooden bedframe with its slats. You can leave it in its natural color or paint it as you wish (perhaps in a color that blends into the surroundings).

Another idea for supports on which to hang vases: rails - just like the ones you use to hang curtains up with in your home or office.

Wooden supports can be used to erect a mesh net framework. You could then add terracotta pots to this and fill the net with plants.

Even wrought iron can be used in an artistic way as wall supports for vases and planters.

Sometimes, the space to create a green area exists only along the walls of the house or the edge of the courtyard. So, exploiting all the vertical space could mean putting up long shelves and some cantilevered supports at the top, such as an old ladder, from which hanging baskets can be placed.

Greenery walls are sometimes used for shading - especially on balconies.  So, growing vines and creepers that have their "feet" in large pots and training them to grow up trellises that will act as a sort of tent, is one idea to consider.

Always with a view to limited outdoor spaces, raised flower beds are very useful: they position the plants at a height that is easier to manage when pruning, fertilizing and when cleaning work has to be done. They also help keep the ground cleaner and easier to walk around.

These long, narrow raised beds could even accommodate seating spaces!

In these areas, it's nice to alternate plants that grow taller with others that fill in the spaces below.

And if you are really restricted with space, a multi-level wooden planter could be the answer: and it's very pleasant to look at!

Have you ever tried creting a "vertical" garden or flowerbed?