HEALTHY HOME
Q How do I best irrigate a living wall system?
A A living wall – sometimes called a vertical garden or plant wall – is a system that creates a planted area on a vertical surface. These structures usually comprise individual pockets or planters up the wall, with the plants in the soil or other planting mediums. They’re attached to solid walls which are often fitted with irrigation systems.
“There are two primary types of irrigation system: direct irrigation and recirculating irrigation,” says Henry Scott from Pehrrson Scott. Recirculating systems – as the name suggests – recirculate water through the wall via a pump. The water is stored with nutrient supplements in a feed tank.
“With the direct system, the water often comes from a city water line and is given to the plant with the help of water pressure,” adds Henry. “It can come with a fertiliser injection and water filter.” The water is removed either directly (using a drain) or via a drip tray diverted to your drainage system.
Most professional installers offer a maintenance contract for regular upkeep, either monthly or quarterly. This includes plant replacement, servicing the irrigation system and checking the overall
