A Guide to Living Walls
Living walls are an effective way to introduce large-scale greenery into offices, hotels, restaurants and commercial spaces. From compact interior features to large exterior installations, a living wall can transform an otherwise unused vertical surface into a striking planted display.In this guide, we explain how living walls work, where they can be installed, what maintenance they require and whether a living or artificial green wall is right for your space.
What Is a Living Wall?
A living wall is a vertical planting system containing real plants grown across a wall or specially designed structure. Unlike a traditional collection of individual planters, the plants form one continuous display, allowing greenery to be introduced without taking up significant floor space.
Where Can Living Walls Be Installed?
Living walls can be designed for a wide range of commercial environments, including office receptions, breakout areas, restaurants, hotels, courtyards and exterior walls.
The location will influence the plants, irrigation system and design of the wall. Interior installations also need sufficient natural or supplementary light to keep the plants healthy.
How Are Living Walls Maintained?
Regular maintenance is essential to keep a living wall healthy and looking its best. This can include watering and irrigation checks, feeding, pruning, cleaning, plant health monitoring and replacing individual plants when required.
Plant Displays Plus can provide ongoing professional maintenance following installation, so the wall continues to develop and remain presentable.
Do Living Walls Need Irrigation?
Larger living walls will generally benefit from an integrated irrigation system, allowing water to be distributed consistently throughout the installation. We also offer a manually maintained system that allows us to water the different sections individually.
The appropriate system depends on the size, position and design of the wall. Smaller installations may have different requirements, which we can assess when planning the project.
Living Wall or Artificial Green Wall?
A living wall provides the texture, growth and natural variation of real plants, but it requires suitable conditions and ongoing maintenance.
An artificial green wall requires considerably less ongoing care and can be particularly useful in low-light, high-level or difficult-to-access locations.
We offer both options and can recommend the most appropriate solution based on your space, access, lighting and desired appearance.
Have More Questions?
Visit our Advice Centre for more helpful guides, including:
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Office Plant Rental Guide
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Weekly Reception Flower Displays
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Living Wall Guide
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The cost of a living wall depends on its size, location, planting specification, access requirements and whether an irrigation system is required.Rather than using a fixed price per square metre for every project, we provide a quotation based on the individual installation. Send us the approximate dimensions and photographs of the proposed wall and we can advise on the options available.