Green Walls

[EcclesCake]

I'm thinking about installing a green wall on my house and was wondering if any of you have first hand experience?

I'm interested to know what kind of frame you used, what kind of planting, any long term maintenancessues and what you would do differently if you were to do it again.

[rockyracoon]

Ooh, I'll watch this thread with interest, I have a wall that would look great. Our local M&S food store has one and it's beautiful.

[EcclesCake]

They are lovely aren't they Rocky?

The only thing putting me off is the thought of all those spiders trying to get in my house when my back is turned :-(

[ummmm]

Just googled. Looks stunning.

Just think how many dirty flies the spiders will eat :-)

[tamborine]

Virginia creeper does least damage to brickwork & dies back in winter.

http://tinyurl.com/otfdwxt

[EcclesCake]

It's more of a living wall than a straight forward climber I'm after. A bit like a sedum roof but growing in a framework on a wall.

[tamborine]

Moss wall with recipe

http://www.permaculture.co.uk/readers-solutions/how-grow-your-own-moss-graffiti

[pastafreak]

Oooh...I had to Google this. Sounds like a great idea.
Here are a couple of articles... https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=547
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/howtogrow/11035106/Green-walls-how-to-grow-a-garden-vertically.html

There is some info on small scale green walls at the end of the Telegraph article.

[EcclesCake]

Thanks Pasta, I had seen the RHS link but not the Telegraph link which takes me to more useful sites.

[EcclesCake]

Any gardeners about this evening?

[mazie]

I've done a lot of gardening in my time Eccles....Not a lover of Green walls...So don't think I can help on this one. Where are you thinking of planting this green wall? which cardinal point will it be facing? Do you live in the North or the South of England... So many considerations

[EcclesCake]

I'm in the South East and the the walls I'm contemplating adorning are south and west facing.

[mazie]

All good Eccles.... I'll have a think and do some research. What sort of effect are you looking for, i.e. all green or a mixture of colours?

[EcclesCake]

AYR interest and minimal maintenance are probably my priorities, plants that have a common level of vigour is probably a consideration too so that one doesn't get swamped by another.

Irrigation etc isn't a worry.

[tonyav]

Eccles, there is a big old house close to me that had a Green wall ( Ivy ) this Ivy had been on this wall of the house for as long as I could remember, they had it removed a couple of years ago and they had to have that wall repointed.

[EcclesCake]

I'm not looking for climbers Tony, I'm looking to installing a framework to plant plug plants or whatever, all shallow rooted plants that will (hopefully) not upset my brickwork.

[tonyav]

Ah I see, thanks Eccles.

[EcclesCake]

Apologies for my persistence!

Is there anyone about with any first hand experience of these who could share some insight?