Green buildings

Image credit: Niek Roozen Landscape

Green walls can be created with vines

Use twining or clinging self-climbers and provide support if needed. Be sure to replace building sand with proper soil so the vines can grow. The advantages of vines are that they grow from the ground up, might need less irrigation, and they can reach a height of up to 20-25m. The disadvantage of vines is that they take a long time to establish. Self-climbing vines include Hedera helix and Parthenocissus tricuspidata (not on north-facing walls (northern hemisphere)). Twining or climbing vines on climbing racks include Ampelopsis, Aristolochia, Celastrus orbiculatas, Humulus lupulus, Wisteria and Vitis.

Green walls can be created using planters

Use climbing and hanging plants and shrubs in the planters. Hang planters on the wall or install ready-made planters with climbing racks. The advantages of planters are that irrigation is needed but the plants can survive if it is temporarily not used, fertilizer can be provided directly into the soil or given in the water, and the results can be seen after 1-2 years.

The disadvantages of planters are that they can be expensive and maintenance is needed a few times per year. Climbing plants for planters include Hedera, Actinidia, Akebia and Periploca. Hanging plants include Hedera and Jasminum nudiflorum

Green walls can be created with facade panels

Use annuals, perennials and small shrubs which grow in special growing panels. “Living wall” techniques include a geotextile cloth with holes and sacks where plants are rooted, vertical hanging plastic plates, facade modules with soil or mineral wool substrate, vertical sedum mats and free-standing wall systems. The advantage of facade panels is that the results can be seen after only a few months. However irrigation is always necessary, the panels are relatively expensive and they need weekly maintenance. Plants for façade panels include hanging plants, annuals, perennials and groundcover plants. Choose perennials and shrubs for leaf form and colour more than their temporary flower colour

Create green walls on new and existing buildings in order to fulfil the need for green where space is limited.