Looking after a vertical garden in summer
In summer a wall needs more water, and sun-facing walls need plants that take heat. Check that the drip line works before the hottest weeks, and never let a wall go through a hot day dry.
Sources checked
What should I do before the heat starts?
- Run the timer and watch every row. Each emitter should drip.
- Clear blocked emitters. Dirt and mineral deposits can block them.
- Check the water supply. A tank that runs dry stops the whole wall.
- Replace weak plants now, while there's time for new ones to settle.
Which walls suffer most?
Walls in direct afternoon sun, usually west and south facing, and walls on open terraces. Inland cities such as Nashik have hot, dry summers, so an outdoor wall there loses water faster than the same wall in Mumbai or Surat.
Which plants take the heat?
Outdoors, it depends on the sun. Dwarf ixora, alternanthera, purple heart and cuphea suit full sun, while rhoeo, mondo grass, chlorophytum and creeping fig suit part sun.
See the plant list for light needs by plant. We set the final list after seeing the wall.
What about during the hottest weeks?
- Water early in the day, before the sun is on the wall.
- Check the wall every few days. A wilting top row is an early warning.
- Leave heavy pruning until the heat breaks.
- Hand-watered walls may need water every day.
See what your wall would cost
Size it online for a first figure, then we measure on site and send a written quote.
