Let’s face it, most of us don’t have acres of land or time to spare. You’ve got limited space, limited hours, and no patience for complicated garden setups. That’s where vertical garden planters shine. They’re practical, easy to build, and a great way to grow more in less space.

From salad greens on a balcony to herbs by the back door, vertical gardening turns walls, fences, and patios into productive green spaces. You can use simple grow bags, pocket panels, or build your own slat-style living wall, whatever fits your space and style.

At Epic Agriculture, we get it. Our team is here to guide you through every step, choosing the right setup, soil, plants, and watering system, so you can grow smarter, not harder.

Key Takeaways

• Vertical garden planters are ideal for small spaces, offering a practical way to grow herbs, greens, and flowers.
• Lightweight, shallow-rooted plants like salad greens, strawberries, and succulents thrive best in vertical setups.
• You can build planters using pallets, pots, gutters, fence slats, or hanging fabric pockets depending on your space and style.
• Proper drainage, quality potting mix, and strategic placement in full sun are essential for healthy vertical gardens.
• Vertical planters should be watered from the top down and rotated periodically for even growth.
• Epic Agriculture offers the tools, soil, and expert guidance to help you grow more in less space with vertical garden solutions.

Why Build a Vertical Garden Planter?

Benefits of Vertical Gardening

We’ve all seen those picture-perfect patios on Instagram, right? Rows of vibrant plants climbing the wall like it’s their personal red carpet. But it’s not just about aesthetics, although that part is fun too. Vertical gardens are lifesavers when space is tight. 

You’re using vertical real estate instead of eating up valuable ground, which is huge for renters, urban dwellers, or anyone dealing with a modest backyard.

There’s also a sunlight bonus here. Elevate your plants and suddenly the lower leaves aren’t shading the top ones. Everybody gets a fair shot at the sun. And if bending, squatting, or crawling under tomato vines isn’t your idea of a good time, vertical gardening brings everything up to a more comfortable level.

What You Can Grow

You’ve got choices, but they’re not all equal. Vertical planters are best suited for light, shallow-rooted crops that don’t throw their weight around. Think herbs (basil, cilantro, chives), salad greens, strawberries, compact flowers, even succulents. All these thrive in tight quarters.

But let’s pump the brakes on dreams of vertical cornfields or tomato jungles. Anything that needs a deep root system or gets top-heavy with fruit, like melons or big peppers, is better off elsewhere. Trust us, gravity isn’t kind to toppling towers of tomatoes.

Tools and Materials You'll Need

Basic Tools

No need to raid a contractor’s toolbox. You can get this project done with a handful of go-to tools:

• A drill and screws (because duct tape won’t cut it here)
• A staple gun, your best friend for locking down fabric
• A hand saw or circular saw, depending on how comfortable you are making straight cuts
• And the humble duo: measuring tape and level, essential if you don’t want your planter to look like a funhouse shelf

These are your baseline. If you've got access to more tools, great. If not, don’t sweat it.

Common Materials

This is where things get creative. Depending on the build, you’ll want to gather a few key materials:

• Wooden pallets if you're going rustic, or plastic/clay pots if you want modularity
• Rain gutters, yes, the kind you’d usually curse during a storm, make excellent horizontal beds
• Fence slats or wood pickets for building structure
• Fabric grow bags if you're going soft-sided and flexible
• Stakes or rods (wood or metal) to support stacking or tower builds
• And the usual garden suspects: landscape fabric, potting mix, maybe even a drip irrigation line if you’re fancy

We always suggest working with what you’ve got. No need to overcomplicate things unless you’re going for high-end results.

Method 1 – Pallet Garden (Best for Herbs or Succulents)

Pallet gardens are kind of the “starter home” of vertical gardening, and we mean that in a good way. They’re budget-friendly, easy to set up, and honestly, they look great once they’re filled in. You’re basically turning the open slats into plant pockets. Let’s break it down:

1. Find a good pallet. Look for one marked “HT” (heat-treated). If you see “MB,” steer clear, that means it’s chemically treated, and that’s a no-go for food or flowers.
2. Lay the pallet flat. Use your staple gun to attach landscape fabric to the back, bottom, and sides. That’s what holds the soil in.
3. Create soil pockets. Fill each section between the slats with potting soil. Pack it in, not too tight, but firm enough to support roots.
4. Plant your stuff. Herbs and succulents do beautifully here.
5. Let it rest. This is important: leave it horizontal for a week or two so the plants can settle.
6. Tilt it upright. Once things are stable, prop it up securely or mount it to a wall or fence.

Patience pays off. If you skip the settling phase, you’ll end up with a garden avalanche the first time you stand it up. These are perfect along patio walls or fence lines where you want a bit of greenery without taking up foot space. Bonus: it kind of doubles as art.

Method 2 – Tiered Pot Tower (Great for Flowers & Herbs)

This one’s for the vertical dreamers. If you’ve got a soft spot for symmetry or just want to make a statement, a pot tower might be your move. It’s dramatic, functional, and surprisingly doable. Here’s how to bring it to life:

1. Drill a hole in the center of each pot if it doesn’t already have one.
2. Insert a rod or stake. You can either drive it into the ground or anchor it in a heavy base pot filled with gravel or even concrete.
3. Start stacking. Place the largest pot on the bottom. Add soil. Plant around the edges.
4. Add the next pot. Tilt it slightly if you’re going for that spiral look. Or center it if you like a cleaner aesthetic.
5. Repeat the process. Stack, fill, plant, until you run out of pots or hit your desired height.

Plastic pots are lighter and easier to manage, especially if you’re going five tiers high. And trust us, anchor that bottom pot. Perlite, vermiculite, even bricks. Otherwise, one windy day and your garden becomes modern art on the sidewalk.

Method 3 – Gutter Garden (Perfect for Salad Greens)

This one’s clever and often overlooked. If you’ve got some spare gutters or know a roofer who owes you a favor, gutter gardens are low-profile, high-reward systems that work incredibly well for leafy greens. Here’s the play-by-play:

1. Cut the gutters to size, 3 to 4 feet usually works well.
2. Cap the ends. This keeps soil where it belongs.
3. Drill drainage holes every few inches along the bottom. You don’t want soggy roots.
4. Mount the gutters. Use brackets to attach them to a wall, railing, or wood frame.
5. Add potting soil and gently press it down.
6. Plant your greens. Lettuces, arugula, spinach, anything that grows fast and doesn’t need much root depth.

Mount your gutters in staggered tiers. This not only looks good but gives each level a better shot at the sun. These are fantastic for narrow balconies or sunny fences that aren’t doing much else.

Method 4 – Fence Slat Planter (Customizable Living Wall)

This vertical garden method lets you turn basic fence slats into a custom living wall. You can mount pots using hose clamps or build shallow planter boxes to attach directly to the slats. It’s great for homeowners who want a sturdy, long-lasting vertical garden that fits a specific space or design. Step by step instructions:

1. Start by building a simple rectangular frame using fence pickets. You can use three vertical boards for height and add horizontal supports to hold planter boxes or pots.
2. Next, attach horizontal slats across the frame. These will act as shelves or support brackets for your planters.
3. If you're using pots, secure them to the slats using metal hose clamps. This keeps them steady and makes it easy to swap plants in and out. If you prefer to build your own wooden boxes, just measure and screw them directly onto the frame.
4. Line each wooden box with plastic sheeting to protect the wood from moisture and help contain the soil. Poke a few small holes in the bottom of the liner for drainage.

This method is perfect for building a permanent garden wall or a decorative backdrop for patios and fences. Choose pressure-treated or weather-sealed wood so your planter lasts longer outdoors. You can even paint or stain it to match your yard.

Method 5 – Hanging Pocket System (Easy Indoor or Balcony Option)

A hanging pocket system is a simple and low-mess way to garden vertically, especially if you live in an apartment or want to grow plants indoors. You can use fabric grow bags or pre-made panels with built-in planting pockets that hang on a wall or freestanding frame. Step by step instructions:

1. Start by purchasing a vertical fabric grow bag or pocket panel. These are available online or at most garden centers and come in various sizes and colors.
2. Mount the system on a wall, fence, or balcony rail using screws, nails, or zip ties. If you can’t drill into walls, hang it on a freestanding frame made from PVC or wood.
3. Fill each pocket with potting soil, packing it in gently but firmly. Then plant your favorite herbs, flowers, or compact veggies.
4. To make watering easier, thread a drip irrigation line through the top of the system and let it trickle down. You can also water by hand from the top.

Pick a UV-resistant fabric if your setup will be outside, it will last longer in the sun. For indoor setups, place it near a sunny window or use grow lights to keep your plants happy.

Vertical Planter Maintenance Tips

Watering & Drainage

Always water from the top down, using drip irrigation or a soaker hose for even moisture. Check that each layer drains properly to avoid soggy roots and mold buildup.

Soil Choice

Use a lightweight potting mix made for containers. It should hold moisture but also allow air to reach the roots. Refresh the soil every season for best results.

Sunlight & Placement

Most herbs and greens need full sun, so place your planter where it gets at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. If one side grows faster than the other, rotate it every few days for even growth.

Grow Simpler With Epic Agriculture Our Vertical Gardening Solutions

At Epic Agriculture, we help gardeners grow more in less space with a full range of solutions, from vertical planters and stackable grow bags to trellises, potting soil blends, and easy-to-install drip irrigation kits. 

Whether you're building a DIY vertical garden from scratch, enhancing a small balcony, or creating a lush wall of herbs and greens, we’ve got the tools, materials, and expert guidance to make it happen. 

Our products are designed with real-life gardeners in mind, durable, efficient, and easy to use. Shop our collection today, we are ready to support your growing success.

Final Thoughts: How to Make a Vertical Garden Planter At Home

Whether you’re working with pallets, pots, or gutters, there’s a vertical garden method that fits your space, your style, and your schedule. These DIY systems are a fun and efficient way to bring life to balconies, patios, fences, or even indoor walls, no matter how small your footprint is. You don’t need a big yard or expensive tools to get started, just a little creativity and the right setup.

Vertical gardening is a simple, hands-on, and sustainable way to grow more in less space while adding color, texture, and fresh produce to your everyday surroundings. It’s perfect for beginners and experienced gardeners alike. Ready to start your project? Check out our selection at Epic Agriculture.