All images courtesy of Plant Solutions, Scottsdale, AZ
A while back, we published a post about a TerraScreen® living wall installed by Joe Zazzera of Plant Solutions, an interiorscaper, landscaper, and all-around green plant guru in Scottsdale, AZ. That post was picked up by Gavin at Livingwallart.com, and has gone viral!
In the meantime, Joe has been busy installing a demonstration VGM® living wall at his facility in Scottsdale. He was nice enough to document the whole thing – pictures after the break…
Much of the description for the project was provided by Joe himself:
We used a Ball horticultural mix for our soil. The inner bags filled easily. With the boxes complete, we were ready to begin planting.
At Tournesol Siteworks we’ll advise you to use a more inorganic-based soil (more like a greenroof soil, only lighter), just because it will reduce the decomposition of the soil over the long run.
VGM modules, ready to plant
They planted edible plants, vegetables, and even tomatoes! This was, after all, designed to be an experimental laboratory for how these plants could do in a living wall in Scottsdale.
We moved the garden to my house for 4 weeks so the plants could root well and allow us to turn them up vertical when they were ready. Since it was my pet project, I thought it best if I didn’t burden the employees with the maintenance just yet
Planted modules, during grow-in
One unique aspect of this project – they set back the rails into the concrete building so that the boxes would hang closer to the wall.
Notching the brick to back-set the rails
Rinsing the rails after cutting and installation
Joe was careful about the layout of the plants, and where they would hang on the wall.
Assembling the panels, it was important to keep the plants that could dry out a little more towards the top of the assembly
They used the VGM-08 module, with 6″ of soil profile. This is the first installation in a hot desert climate like Phoenix, so we’re looking forward to the results of what does well, and what doesn’t. The success of the irrigation system will make or break the wall!
Hanging the grown-in modules
Almost there!
Here’s Joe watering down the wall. The irrigation system was going to be installed after the fact, and he wanted to make sure that the modules had plenty of water until then. This is a north-facing wall, but is surrounded by brick and pavement. It will be educational for all of us to see what thrives and what doesn’t (at least in terms of plant species).
watering in prior to attaching the irrigation system
Thanks for putting this up, and sharing the images, Joe. For any of you in the area, Joe would be happy to give you a tour of his gorgeous showroom and living wall installations. You can contact him through Plant Solutions.
Do you know of any edible wall installation similar to this in Colorado? Thanks for posting these photos!
Michelle-
Nothing specifically, sorry. It seems most of the edible walls that go in are “private” walls, as opposed to public walls where owners are concerned with consistent appearance. Frequently edible walls aren’t much to look at.