Landscape Design
Double Take: A Living Mural in California
A clever hydroponic system keeps this artful vertical garden thriving
Browsing through thumbnail-size photos on Houzz, I spotted one that I first thought was a beautifully rendered mural. When I clicked on the photo, I did a double take when I realized it was completely composed of plants. Taking a look at the entire project, I discovered it was double-sided to boot. Landscape designer and vertical wall expert Scott Hutcheon walks us along the wall and through what went into crafting it.
Large swaths of plants in greens from bright to dark, purples and oranges form a living work of art. The purple plant at the top is a variety of heuchera; beneath it is variegated aptenia. The plant beneath that is a Medusa fern, and beneath that is Muehlenbeckia.
The dark-leaved plant peeking out on the right side of this photo is Ficus elastica decora.
As one walks along the wall, the experience changes, with some of the leaves pushing out closer to the body than others, and with the colors and textures changing in waves. This photo also shows the different sizes and shapes of the leaves.
“There are three important components for a successful living wall,” Hutcheon says. “The system, the plants you choose and the maintenance.” The system he employed here is the Seasons pocket planter system, a hydroponic setup inspired by the work of world-renowned botanist and artist Patrick Blanc.
“There are three important components for a successful living wall,” Hutcheon says. “The system, the plants you choose and the maintenance.” The system he employed here is the Seasons pocket planter system, a hydroponic setup inspired by the work of world-renowned botanist and artist Patrick Blanc.
The system uses Aquafelt in place of soil. This graphic shows the layers under the plants: The first layer is a grid of aluminum tubes, the second is plastic board, and the third is two layers of felt irrigation cloth. “We have found that this felt works better than soil; the felt wicks the nutrient-rich water and lets oxygen breathe into the root zone — there’s enough air in it to allow the roots to run through it,” he says. “With this felt, the roots run through the expanse of the wall, and there are no root-bound issues that you have with other types of systems.”
Maintenance involves developing an eye for any problems. “For example, if you notice a vertical line of unhappy plants, that can indicate that one of the emitters is clogged,” Hutcheon says. “It’s important to keep an eye out at least once a week at first, then every other week once the wall creates its own ecosystem and is well-rooted.” He also recommends scooping debris from the recirculating tank’s trough, checking the pH in the water and adding nutrients as needed.
Here’s a guide to the different varieties of heuchera plants used in the design. “These photos show the wall in all its glory, but you need to expect that during the winter, it will look more sparse,” Hutcheon says. “The heuchera stays the most leafy and full year-round.” He also warns homeowners that, just as with a garden on the ground, they should expect to have to make a few replacements. Unfortunately, a mildew that killed aptenias ran rampant through Southern California after this wall was planted, so those had to be replaced.
Here is the other side of the wall, which faces the business. The colors in the foliage create a design that functions as a lush work of art.
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Bring More Green to Your Patio or Side Yard With a Living Wall
How to Add a Living Wall
Double Take
What is it? A two-sided living wall
Location: Laguna Beach, California
Size: 30 by 7 feet (9.1 by 2.1 meters)
Designer: Scott Hutcheon, owner of Seasons Natural Engineering
The wall is between the Obagi Skin Health Institute and its owners’ home. They have quite a nice commute!
As one walks along these steppingstones from the house to the gate, a portion of what awaits comes into view on the right.