There’s something so satisfying about transforming a blank outdoor space into a lush, green retreat. Whether you’re looking to add privacy, create a cooling shade, or simply bring fresh air and greenery to your patio, a DIY vertical garden is the perfect project. Dean built ours a couple of summers ago, with a little help from my dad, and it’s become one of my favorite features in our outdoor space.
If you love outdoor projects like this one, you’ll also enjoy the DIY Vintage Window Flower Box tutorial. Both projects are great ways to add greenery and charm to your outdoor spaces, whether you have a small yard or an expansive garden.
DIY Vertical Garden Wall: Step-by-Step
Materials
- Ground spikes (2, 4″ x 4″)
- Cedar posts (2, 4″ x 4″ x 8′)
- Cedar planks (3, 2″ x 6″ x 8′)
- Scrap length of 4″ x 4″
- Lag bolts (8, 1/4″ x 3″)
- Hex wire netting (1 pkg, 24″ x 25′, 1″)
- 3/4″ fence staples
- 19-gauge plated steel wire
- 4″ terra cotta pots (about 35)
- Small plants (30-35)
- Potting soil
Tools
- Sledgehammer
- Scrap wood (to protect materials while hammering)
- Measuring tape
- Saw (for cutting cedar posts and planks)
- Level
- Clamps
- Drill
- Countersink drill bit
- Pliers
- Hammer
Instructions
Here’s how Dean and my dad built this vertical garden step by step. (I’ve included photos for each step to guide you!)
1. Check for utility lines
Before starting, make sure there are no utility wires or pipes in the area. If in doubt, call your local utility company to check (it’s free!).
2. Mark your post locations
Measure and mark where the posts will go. Ours were 7 feet apart.
3. Install ground spikes
Use a sledgehammer and a scrap piece of wood to hammer ground spikes into the ground where marked.
4. Cut cedar posts
Trim the 4″ x 4″ cedar posts to your desired height. Ours are 7 feet tall.
5. Secure posts
Place a post in each ground spike, level it, and tighten the bolts. Repeat for the second post.
6. Attach planks
Clamp two 2″ x 6″ planks to the top of the posts (front and back). Adjust so the overhang is even on all sides, then pre-drill countersunk holes and attach using lag bolts.
7. Add arbor framing (optional)
If you want a decorative top, cut and angle additional planks to your desired size. Secure with brackets or by toe-nailing.
8. Attach wire netting
Unroll and cut the wire netting to fit between the posts. Use fence staples to secure it to the planks and posts, stacking multiple lengths as needed.
9. Join wire netting
Use small wire pieces to connect the seams, ensuring the netting forms a sturdy “wall.”
10. Prep and pot plants
Wrap a wire around each pot and twist to secure. Fill the terra cotta pots with small plants and a bit of soil.
11. Attach pots
Feed the wire ends through the netting, twist them tightly, and adjust the pots as needed.
After about a month or more we adore our DIY vertical garden wall and have received many compliments on it from neighbors and friends. And so far the only drawback has been watering it every day to keep the plants from drying out. We’re already thinking of a way to make it self-watering for next summer – maybe a pump, tubing, and trough system?
FAQs
It took Dean about a weekend to complete, with a little help from my dad.
We used a mix of herbs, small flowers, and climbing vines, but hardy plants suited to your climate work best.
Yes, we currently water it every day. We’re brainstorming a self-watering system for next summer, like tubing and a pump.
Absolutely! Just ensure you have a sturdy, freestanding base or heavy pots to anchor it securely.
More DIY Projects
- How to Build Your Own DIY Vertical Garden Wall
- Foundation Refacing – How to Cover a Cinder Block Foundation
- DIY Vintage Window Flower Box
- How to Install a Flagstone Walkway
- 3 Easy Summer Porch Updates That Make a Big Impact
- 10 Best Pool Deck Ideas to Make Your Space Stylish and Private
- How to Paint Exterior Trim That’s Peeling Without Scraping or Sanding
DIY Vertical Garden Wall Tutorial
Build a DIY vertical garden wall for privacy and greenery! A charming, functional project for any yard or small space. Step-by-step guide.
Materials
- Ground spikes (2, 4" x 4")
- Cedar posts (2, 4" x 4" x 8')
- Cedar planks (3, 2" x 6" x 8')
- Scrap length of 4" x 4"
- Lag bolts (8, 1/4" x 3")
- Hex wire netting (1 pkg, 24" x 25', 1")
- 3/4" fence staples
- 19-gauge plated steel wire
- 4" terra cotta pots (about 35)
- Small plants (30-35)
- Potting soil
Tools
- Sledgehammer
- Scrap wood (to protect materials while hammering)
- Measuring tape
- Saw (for cutting cedar posts and planks)
- Level
- Clamps
- Drill
- Countersink drill bit
- Pliers
- Hammer
Instructions
- Check for utility lines. Ensure no wires or pipes are in your chosen location. Contact your utility company if unsure.
- Mark post locations. Measure and mark the spots for the posts, 7 feet apart.
- Install ground spikes. Hammer ground spikes into the marked spots using a sledgehammer and scrap wood for protection.
- Cut cedar posts. Trim posts to your desired height (ours are 7 feet tall).
Secure posts. Place posts into ground spikes, level them, and tighten bolts. - Attach planks. Clamp planks to the posts, adjust for even overhang, pre-drill holes, and secure with lag bolts.
- Add arbor framing (optional). Cut and angle additional planks for a decorative top; attach using brackets or toe-nailing.
- Attach wire netting. Cut netting to fit between posts. Secure with fence staples, stacking multiple lengths as needed.
- Join wire netting. Use small wire pieces to connect seams and create a sturdy mesh.
- Prep pots and plants. Fill terra cotta pots with soil and plants. Wrap wire around each pot for attachment.
- Attach pots. Feed wire ends through netting and twist to secure. Adjust as needed for balance.
Video Tutorial
Watching Dean build this DIY vertical garden (with my dad’s occasional input!) was so rewarding. It’s transformed our yard into a cozy, green oasis and even become a talking point with friends and neighbors. If you’re dreaming of a similar project, I encourage you to try it. The effort is so worth it! Let me know in the comments if you give it a go or have questions—I’d love to cheer you on.
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I love this vertical garden! Well done!
Thank you!
Excellent tutorial. I love the look of this idea but wonder how it worked out over time? I’d have to water it multiple times a day in the summer!
Such a great idea! Love your blog!
That is such a genius idea! Pinned and stumbled it!
This web site really has all of the information and facts I needed concerning this subject and didn’t know who to ask.
THANK YOU for this how-to!
I’ve been wondering how to put up something like that, but didn’t know what to call it! I found it by googling images of “hanging planter structure”. 🙂 Except instead of wire suspension, I initially wanted to just put hooks in the top beam and hang my handmade flowerpots. I love the wire too though, and since I want to make mine about 20 feet long – think I’ll just alternate places with wire and places with hanging pots.
Hi Shannon, I love your vertical garden project! Definitely going to try this out, I have a question: have you tried using metal pots before? If so, did you have any problems with rust, or did it hold out ok? Thanks!
Love this! I’ve been searching the web for a vertical garden solution and this is the only idea that i liked!
We are going to try it this weekend, but instead of making a freestanding frame, we are going to attach the wire net to the side of our brick shed (4.6 meters long!). The shed is ugly and I’ve been wanting to find a way of growing small vegetables vertically, to prevent our dog digging them up! So this will cover both of those problems! Thank you for sharing your tutorial too 🙂
Sounds like you’ve got a great plan! Good luck with it and glad we could help in the brainstorming process!
Can you use bigger pots to grow bigger vegetables or would it not work with the weight?
I’m not sure that it would work. You could try, but maybe use not terra cotta pots? Maybe plastic?
Thank you for the excellent, easy to follow direction. I’m going to build a wire fence too for flowering vines to grow on since clay potted plants dry out to fast where I live.
Oh yes! Great idea!
I will try this idea on my chainink fence! Thanks so much for the idea. Watering will be fine since it will be by my garden and recieve the samectrestment.
Have fun!!! I’d love to see it when you finish!
Thanks for posting this amazing diy project. I followed your post and built one at my home recently. I have blended the design with another project and very happy with the result. Hope I can post a pic of my vertical garden here?
Hi Syam,
I’m so happy you like how your project turned out! You are welcome to share you photo on our Facebook page (unfortunately we don’t have that option on the blog). 🙂 https://facebook.com/homemadelovely1
I love this project! I have 2 questions though, what does toenailing mean and what is the purpose of those weird shaped boards at the top as I don’t recall them in the material list. I understand everything accept the top boards and toenailing although I reread it several times.
Hi Cheryl,
Toenailing means putting the nail in at an angle to attach the two pieces. And the “weird” shaped boards are for looks, nothing else.
This is awesome. Hope I can do it!!! More, more, MORE PLEASE!! SO GREAT!
Glad you’re enjoying our ideas!
This is very creative and looks awesome saucesome. Thanks for the idea :0)