WILDERS: Vertical gardening? Why not?

Who says that plants can only grow on the ground? If you ever walk through a rain forest and look up, you can't miss the numerous tree branch-hugging plants, like Spanish moss (Tillandsia), ferns, and in the tropics, epiphytic orchids, which seem to suspend themselves mid-air at all different levels. We can use the same effect in our gardens, be it on a patio, a balcony or ideally, a tree-filled back yard. Especially in plant-cramped spaces, going vertical is an ideal solution!

One popular example of a vertical garden is the wreath garden. You know, the ones that people hang up on their front door, gate, or fence during the winter holiday season. They may consist of evergreen bows and branches and dried flowers. But any time of the year, you can create a lovely living evergreen wreath made of succulents. If you still have space on your New Year's resolutions list, consider adding this project. It can be done in a weekend.

For plants, start looking for short cuttings from succulents, like sedums, aeonium, small-leaved jade plant (Crassula), echeverias, sempervivums (hen and chicken), red apple iceplant, even the small succulent-type bromeliad Cryptanthus acaulis. You can trade with plant-loving friends or buy baby succulents in the tiny clay pots.

If you have seen the planted ones at the garden centers, you may feel intimidated even thinking about making your own, but once you find out what's inside and what holds it together, you'll quickly see how easy this can be. You'll use a circular heavy-gauge wire frame that you can find at crafts and hobby stores. You could opt for a heart shape, considering Valentine's Day is just around the corner. These frames open like a clamshell into two troughs; you'll need a bag of green sphagnum moss and some light mixed potting soil. Line both sides with pre-moistened sphagnum moss and add some potting soil to just one side of the frame. Now close the frame and wrap some copper wire around it to keep it closed. Attach loops to the back of the frame ---- on the top and on the bottom ---- so you can rotate the living wreath for even exposure.

Now you are ready to insert the cuttings tightly together (for a more mature look) or less tightly, for an open, lacy look. Take a look at page 176-178 in Debra Lee Baldwin's Book "Succulent Container Gardens" for other ideas.

And now for something totally different: Are you ready for a vertical, multitiered "gutter garden"? Yes, and wait until you see how it looks ---- neat and attractive and very practical for small space gardens. Plus you'll have an instant space divider or a very affordable privacy screen (ideal for balconies). You can grow edibles like lettuces, spinach, Swiss chard, strawberries, a variety of favorite herbs, and annual flowers, like marigolds, nasturtiums, pansies and violas.

Here are some of the materials that are needed for this fun project: one 8-foot PVC white rain gutter, cut into three 36-inch sections; six PVC white gutter end caps; 1/8-inch diameter steel cables cut to desired length; some clamps; some steel rods; galvanized eye hooks; soil and the plants.

For detailed instructions, plus photos, go to www.ahahomeandgarden.com to read Susan Morrison's pictorial "How to Make a Hanging Gutter Garden." It is quite ingenious and simple. Have fun!

Tineke Wilders is a freelance garden columnist. Questions: tinekegardens@gmail.com


