Vertical garden walls are becoming a staple in the modern home. As homeowners and interior designers continue to utilise vertical gardens in many ways, people are starting to realise that there are an incredible amount of options out there, including both living and artificial vertical garden walls.
We understand it can be daunting to research the pros and cons of both these types of vertical gardens, so we’re here to make it simple for you. Here are some pros and cons of living and artificial vertical gardens!
Artificial vertical gardens walls
Pros:
Artificial vertical gardens are typically made from plastic, and were created as an alternative to living vertical gardens for those who do not have green thumbs.
Among other things, an artificial garden doesn’t require watering, fertilising, and pest control. You also don’t have to worry about cutting back vertical gardens as they’re truly evergreen and stay in the same stunning shape their whole lifetime! They’re also really easy to customise to your space, since you can install and re-shape your vertical garden plants any way you want.
Since there is very little maintenance involved in having an artificial vertical garden, you can spend less time taking care of your vertical garden, and more time enjoying it instead.
Cons:
One major thing that plastic plants simply cannot do is provide oxygen and process carbon emissions the way a real plant can. So if you’re wanting a vertical garden to filter the air in your home, artificial vertical gardens aren’t the best choice.
There’s also less variety in the types of plants for artificial vertical gardens, so unless a supplier can make custom florals, it’s likely you’ll have to look at purchasing an artificial vertical garden from a more limited choice of foliage compared to what Mother Nature can produce.
Another thing to consider is that since the plants of an artificial vertical garden remains static, you’ll have to purchase more plants to make your vertical garden “grow”.
Real vertical gardens
Pros
A living vertical garden can benefit its environment in numerous ways, including filtering and purifying the air, and even balancing the temperature and humidity of its surroundings. A vertical garden made up of live plants also responds to the seasons, so it can help to keep a space warmer in winter by letting sun in, or cooler in the summer by blocking the sun with dense leaves.
Living vertical gardens also encourage biodiversity and attract wildlife. From bees to birds, animals of all kinds can enjoy a real vertical garden as much as you do!
You can also grow fruits and vegetables in living vertical gardens, which can reduce your household spending and increase your health through a diet of fresh foliage.
Artificial green walls are also great for spaces with low light in your home where living plants would struggle to survive in. So should there be an area of your house that is in need of greenery but just isn’t suitable for living plants, then artificial green wall discs are a fantastic solution.
Another benefit of artificial green walls is that they are easy to install and even move around.
Cons:
Living vertical gardens require a lot of constant maintenance, including watering, fertilising, and pruning. It takes a lot of time, money, and energy to keep a living vertical garden alive and happy!
Additionally, since pest control is a big part of keeping your living vertical garden alive, you will have to use pesticides and chemicals around them, which are usually toxic and not great for your health.
Living vertical gardens are also prone to overgrowth, and in fact have been known to cause permanent structural damage including cracks from root damage and chronic dampness from moisture retention.
If you have children or pets, it is also worth noting that real plants can be poisonous, even those that are popular in home decor, like the fiddle leaf fig! Allergies are also something to be concerned about – plant allergies are a real thing, and can cause anything from hayfever symptoms to hives.
Benefits shared by living and artificial vertical gardens
As with most things, there are some commonalities between living and artificial vertical gardens. For example, both types of vertical gardens are beautifully green, and this has been shown to have a calming effect frequently looking at plants have been proven to reduce strain on overtired eyes, and can even lower your blood pressure and reduce feelings of anxiety.
Both living and artificial vertical gardens can also be used to add privacy to a space and even absorb noise, which is great in areas with high traffic like an office or main living space.
And a vertical garden, whether living or artificial, is simply a stunning way to make a statement in your space! There are so many ways to style a vertical garden too, so you can be sure that your vertical garden perfectly enhances the space it’s in.
Living VS artificial vertical gardens
See our green wall comparison infographic below:
No matter which type of vertical garden you choose, we hope that we’ve helped you narrow down your choices so you can get one step closer to creating the vertical garden of your dreams!
Curious to learn more about our artificial vertical gardens? Be sure to check out our range of easy-to-install vertical garden panels, or get in touch with us with your questions!
