How Much Does a Vertical Garden Cost?

Last Updated on March 11, 2024
Written by CPA Alec Pow | Content Reviewed by CFA Alexander Popinker

Vertical gardening is becoming increasingly popular in urban areas as an eco-friendly way to maximize limited space while bringing more greenery into city environments. But how much does it actually cost to set up your own vertical garden? In this article, we’ll break down the key factors that influence vertical garden pricing so you can determine the budget and ROI for your own vertical landscape project.

How Much Does a Vertical Garden Cost?

To start, vertical gardens can range in price from $500 to $5,000 or more, depending on the size, design complexity, types of plants, and whether you DIY or hire a professional.

The major cost drivers typically include the structural materials, irrigation system, soil, plants, and labor if you don’t install it yourself. Ongoing maintenance costs also need to be factored in.

Plants On Walls offers a builder’s pricing guide for vertical gardens, with the Florafelt system priced at $30/sf to $80/sf. The system includes fully felted walls with plantable pockets, and the plants are pre-wrapped and inserted into the pockets according to a design grid. The irrigation system consists of a standard drip line across the top and a gutter at the base, with an additional cost of $400-$800 per installation.

Amazon provides a range of prices for vertical garden products, including planters and gardening systems, with prices varying from under $25 to over $200.

Epic Gardening sells vertical planters, such as the GreenStalk 5 Tier Vertical Planter for $149.00 and the GreenStalk 7 Tier Vertical Planter for $169.00.

Garden Tower Project offers the Garden Tower 2™, a 50-plant composting vertical garden planter, with a regular price of $499.00 and a sale price of $379.00.

What Are The Benefits of Vertical Gardens?

Before delving into costs, it helps to understand the excellent returns vertical gardens offer in terms of aesthetics and environmental impact. Some key advantages include:

• More green space and plants in compact areas
• Better air quality and oxygen production
• Noise reduction and increased privacy
• Reduced urban heat island effects
• Stormwater runoff management
• Promotes biodiversity by attracting pollinators
• Local food production in some cases
• Improved mental health from being around plants and nature

For city dwellers with limited outdoor space, vertical gardens are an attractive way to reap the benefits of gardening and connect with nature. The upfront investment is worthwhile when you consider the multi-faceted payoff.

Types of Vertical Garden Designs

There are several basic vertical garden styles, each with varying installation and upkeep costs:

• Freestanding walls or frames: Made of wood, metal, plastic, etc. and set on a balcony or against a wall.
• Mounted panels: Modular panels mounted on walls or fences. Easy DIY option.
• Green walls: Plants rooted in vertically hanging pockets, built-in plant boxes, or trailing from built-in trellises on a wall.
• Living walls: Modular panels or planted sheets with an integrated irrigation system. More complex.
• Vining plants on trellises: Use vining plants and trellises to create a living wall. Lower cost.
• Tower gardens: Stacked container gardens or cylindrical towers to grow upward.

The type you choose will significantly impact the total project cost. Living walls and mounted panel systems tend to be among the most expensive options.

Factors That Influence Vertical Garden Pricing

The main variables that determine how much you’ll spend on your vertical garden are:

Size and Coverage Area

The overall square footage and dimensions of your vertical garden will drive cost more than any other factor. Smaller DIY wall gardens can be under $500 while large commercial living walls are $5,000+. For green walls, pricing may range from $30-$150 per square foot depending on complexity.

You might also like our articles on the cost of carnations, sunflowers, or Easter lilies.

Design and Materials

More complex vertical garden designs with customized features will increase the budget. The main structural materials also affect pricing:

• Wood – Lower cost, around $30-60 per square foot
• Metal – Moderate cost, $60-100 per square foot
• Plastic – Budget-friendly, $20-50 per square foot

Type of Plants

The types of plants chosen influence cost. Ornamental plants and edibles tend to be more expensive than evergreen ferns or grasses. Showy flowering varieties also cost more than greens.

Irrigation System

Automated irrigation adds significant cost but saves labor for watering. Simple drip irrigation or sprayers may run $200+ while advanced automated systems are $500+.

Labor

DIY projects minimize labor fees. Hiring a professional landscaping company for installation and design can add $1,500-$5,000+ to the total.

Other Cost Factors:

• Location – Difficult installations cost more
• Soil – High-quality soil improves growth
• Maintenance – Ongoing costs for upkeep
• Accessories – Trellises, lighting, etc. add cost

Now let’s look at installation and maintenance costs in detail.

Installing Your Vertical Garden: DIY vs. Professional

You can save substantially on vertical garden installation by building it yourself. While DIY vertical walls require more effort and skill, they may cost half as much as hiring pros.

Here are typical vertical garden pricing ranges:

• DIY: $200-$2,500
• Professional install: $1,500-$5,000

With DIY options like modular wall panels or simple green wall designs, you can create an attractive vertical garden for under $500 if you already have the tools. Watch online tutorials for guidance.

But for more complex irrigation systems and living walls, you may wish to pay a professional installer $2,000-$5,000+. The advantage is having an expert design and flawlessly implement your living wall vision. Also, consider hiring pros if:

• Your site has challenging access or complications
• You want extensive lighting, custom features, or specialty plants
• You lack the time, skills, tools, and effort for DIY

Professional vertical garden companies offer end-to-end services covering design, installation, plant sourcing, and maintenance packages. Shop around for quotes.

Ongoing Vertical Garden Maintenance

While tremendously beneficial, vertical gardens do require regular upkeep which contributes to lifetime costs. After installation, anticipate the following maintenance expenses:

• Watering – Depends on climate but expect around $200 annually for drip irrigation water.
• Pruning and trimming – $150-300 per year, more for larger gardens.
• Soil health management – $100 per year for fertilizer, compost, etc.
• Plant replacement – $100-300 annually as plants die.
• Weeding and pest control – $50-150 per year for plants staying healthy.

You can reduce maintenance costs by installing rainwater collection systems, choosing hardy native plants, using slow release fertilizers, and spot-treating weeds/pests versus preventative spraying.

Pro tip: When pricing out your vertical garden, double the installation cost to estimate the 5 year maintenance costs.

Real Examples of Vertical Garden Pricing

To understand real-world vertical garden costs, here are some examples with price breakdowns:

• Condo balcony garden – 8′ x 4′ mounted panel kit with drip irrigation and 20 plants. $935 total.
  • Panels & frame – $215
  • Plants – $180
  • Soil & fertilizer – $90
  • Irrigation kit – $280
  • Install labor – $170
• Office living wall – 200 sq ft mounted panel system with integrated irrigation and lighting. $11,500 total.
  • Panels & frame – $4,500
  • Installation – $3,500
  • Irrigation system – $1,800
  • Soil, plants, fertilizer – $900
  • Lighting – $800
• Restaurant green wall – Interior wall with steel trellis, drip system, and 100 sq ft of plants. $2,800 total.
  • Trellis materials – $900
  • Installation labor – $500
  • Irrigation parts – $300
  • Plants & soil – $700
  • Lighting – $400

As you can see, the variables of size, complexity, materials, and labor significantly influence the final cost and budget for your vertical garden. Now let’s look at plant selection and design.

The Best Plants for Your Vertical Garden

Your climatic conditions, sun exposure, and style preferences will inform plant choice. Here are some top picks suited to vertical gardening:

Full Sun– Petunias, marigolds, lavender, basil, thyme, succulents like sedum.

Part Sun – Ferns, impatiens, begonias, ivy, mint, oregano, parsley.

Shade – Hostas, coleus, polka dot plant, coral bells, caladiums, climbing philodendron.

Prioritize hardy plants that require little maintenance. Drought-tolerant succulents, ornamental grasses, and evergreen ferns are smart choices for green walls and living walls.

Design Elements That Impact Vertical Garden Cost

Besides plants, vertical garden accessories and features increase costs but provide aesthetic and functional benefits. These include:

Trellises – Guide vining plants upward. From $3-$15 per foot.

Automatic irrigation – Crucial for living walls. $200+.

Lighting – For nighttime drama. Outdoor LEDs from $25 per.

Edging and borders – Define boundaries cleanly for $4-$12 per foot.

Modular panels – Pre-planted panels for simplified install. $50-$200 each.

Water features – Provides soothing sounds. $100+ depending on size.

Custom materials – Using specialty reclaimed wood, metals, or concrete will increase costs but provides visual interest.

Important Tools and Materials for Installing Vertical Gardens

To DIY your vertical garden, be sure you have these supplies:

• Building materials (wood, metal, plastic panels)
• Drill, screws, and hardware
• Quality potting soil
• Garden tools like trowels, shovel, gloves
• Plants and/or seeds
• Irrigation system – hoses, emitters, timers, etc.
• Fertilizer or compost
• Trellises and plant supports
• Edge finishing materials
• Landscape fabric (optional)

How Vertical Gardening Promotes Sustainability

Vertical gardens align with several sustainable gardening practices:

• Reduce urban sprawl by maximizing existing spaces
• Clean the air and absorb stormwater runoff
• Provide food security when edibles are included
• Reduce transportation pollution by growing local
• Use water efficiently with drip irrigation
• Provide biodiversity for bees and pollinators
• Reduce heating and cooling costs through insulation

Potential Challenges and Solutions for Vertical Gardens

While stunning, vertical gardens do pose some challenges:

Poor drainage – Ensure proper water drainage from beds/pockets. Add gravel layers if needed.

Overwatering – Install a drip irrigation system with timer.

Not enough sun – Select plants suited to shade or part-sun. Supplement with grow lights.

Pests and diseases – Practice preventive care. Treat problems early and organically.

Plant mortality – Replenish soils annually and replace dead plants. Automate watering.

High winds – Use wind-resistant structures and anchor properly.

With good design and vigilant care, these issues can be prevented or resolved so your vertical garden thrives.

Saving Money on Your Vertical Garden Project

If your budget is tight, here are great ways to reduce vertical garden costs:

• Start small – even a few modular wall panels create impact.
• DIY the install and use found or recycled materials.
• Choose low-maintenance, hardy plants suited to your climate.
• Install simple drip irrigation on a timer versus advanced systems.
• Control pests/disease through prevention versus purchasing costly treatments.
• Propagate plants from cuttings or plant divisions from friends.
• Use basic organic fertilizers like compost tea versus specialty products.
• See if your city offers rebates for green infrastructure projects.

Conclusion

Creating living art with vertical gardens is attainable for any budget when you follow basic design principles. thoughtfully choose plants, and take advantage of cost-saving DIY options. With some planning, you can install an eco-friendly vertical garden starting at just $500. Factor in long-term maintenance, focus on hardy plants, and your garden will flourish for years to come.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are vertical gardens worth it?

Yes, vertical gardens are absolutely worth the investment given their many benefits like beautifying unused spaces, cleaning the air, reducing noise pollution, enhancing biodiversity, and improving mental health – especially in urban settings. The upfront costs pay off when you account for these ongoing returns.

Are there any drawbacks to using vertical gardens?

The main potential downsides are the regular maintenance required for watering, pruning, replanting, and pest management versus a traditional horizontal garden. Proper planning and design minimizes these challenges. Verticle gardens also lose some efficiency advantages of single-level greenhouse row planting.

Is it difficult to maintain vertical gardens?

Vertical gardens do require more diligent maintenance than in-ground plots, especially when first establishing plants. Ongoing care for watering, fertilizing, pruning, and replanting plants is essential. The work is very manageable with proper DIY systems or professional maintenance packages. Once plants are thriving, maintenance time