Modular Turf
Q1. What is a vertical garden?
A1. A vertical garden is a living garden that grows out from a surface such as a wall. It is different from a wall that is covered in climbing plants that have grown from the ground up. Traditionally, vertical gardens are grown in series of horizontal planter boxes and a range of species are selected that trail down and grow up to cover the wall surface. Some new developments grow in a frame with constant running water trickling down from the top.
Q2. What is a Fytowall vertical garden?
A2. The new Fytowall vertical garden system features a series of modular panels containing a soil-less growing medium in which a wide variety of plant species grow. Supported by a hydroponic watering system, Fytowall garden panels are attached to a vertical surface such as a wall, fence or balcony. From the day of installation the plants grow upwards and outwards to cover the wall, creating a dramatic visual display.
Q3. How do the plants grow on the Fytowall?
A3. Unlike ordinary gardens, Fytowall vertical gardens do not use soil. Each Fytowall is a soil-less, biodegradable growing medium in the form of a special foam which ensures that the growing panels are light, stable and retain and evenly distribute water to the plants.
Plants are inserted into small holes cut out of the foam. Eventually their roots take hold and the plants spread across the wall.
Q4. What are Fytowall’s benefits?
A4. As a growing media, Fytowall panels hold air and water uniformly. This prevents the occurrence of dry and wet zones in different parts of the wall. It also means that the garden cannot be over-watered and that a larger variety of plants can be grown.
Fytowall vertical gardens are the most water efficient gardens on the market. Fytowall is very effective at retaining moisture and distributing it to the plants.
Unlike other designs, Fytowall provides a considerable media water volume buffer in the event of an irrigation failure or extreme weather conditions.
Q5. How do I water the garden?
A5. The garden has an easy-to-use inbuilt irrigation system that automatically waters the plants on a drip system by feeding water and fertilizer across the wall.
Q6. What environment is the vertical garden best suited to?
A6. Vertical gardens are ideal for any garden but because of their size and ability to grow in any space, they are particularly effective as a garden feature, dividing wall, wall cover for an ugly wall in a courtyard or for decoration on a balcony.
Due to the technology used in Fytogreen’s vertical gardens, the gardens can be grown anywhere and are perfect for any Australian condition. The gardens do not have to receive a certain amount of sunlight or water to flourish, as Fytogreen can create gardens to suit the environment. Plant species can be selected based on the environment’s requirements.
Q7. What plant species can we use?
A7. There are hundreds of different species which can be used in Fytogreen’s vertical gardens including ground covers, natives, grasses and ferns. Fytogreen’s database of plants enables planting for most growing environments and includes turf, herbs, succulents, ferns, annuals and perennials.
Q8. What structures need to be in place to install the vertical garden?
A8. The vertical garden requires a wall or solid structure to be in place to hang the garden from. This could be a house wall, fence or balcony.
Q9. What sizes do the vertical gardens come in?
A9. Vertical gardens can be designed to suit the garden. The vertical gardens are made up of a series of Fytowall panels. A vertical garden can consist of just one of these panels or a number of panels covering many metres in length or as high as access and support will allow. These panels offer more, with the ability to be interchangeable. The vertical garden can be used as a feature using different plant types or colours. Highlighted using lights or made into different shapes such as company logos and significant symbols.
Q10. How much water does the vertical garden use?
A10. A maximum of up to five litres per m2 per day for mid-summer temperatures, down to less than a litre per day in winter. So for a 4m2 Fytowall vertical garden, you may need up to 20 litres per day. (Less than the quantity of two standard buckets).
Q11. Are the vertical gardens environmentally friendly?
A11. Yes. The Fytowall is the most water efficient vertical garden on the market.
Fytowall is the only system that works with water efficiency to allow a far greater range of plant species. With water restrictions in place, Fytowall can still be used with correct species selection and in combination with rainwater tanks.
Q12. Can I use the vertical garden when there are water restrictions in place?
A12. The Fytogreen vertical can operate well within the current 3A water restrictions due to its ability to work with rain water.
Q13. How often can I change the plants?
A13. Owners can change the plants in the wall as often as they like. Due to its modular design, growing panels can be removed seasonally or when desired. For best results, Fytogreen will pre-grow the new panels and either maintain the old panels for future exchange or dispose of them for the client. There will be a cost associated with this.
Q14. Is the garden easy to use?
A14. The garden requires little maintenance by the owner. The watering timer will need adjusting for the seasons. The panels will need to be checked for wetness once a week and a liquid feed will need to be applied via the automated system once a month. Minimal weeding is required and pruning is done as normal. All in all, monitoring of the garden takes around two minutes per week and feeding the garden takes about ten minutes a month, for an average 9m2 vertical garden.
Q15. What happens if I go on holiday?
A15. Not a problem, check that the irrigation controller is plugged in and replace the batteries if it is a battery unit. Check the fertigation schedule, to check that the next scheduled feed is not going to occur while you are away.
Q16. How much does a vertical garden cost?
A16. The cost of a Fytowall vertical garden is dependant on a number of factors such as the size, location of the proposed site and plant species selected. As a guide, a 2m x 2m (4m2) Fytowall garden will cost approximately $6,000 installed on the wall with its own frame, client training and commissioning.
Q17. Who is Fytogreen?
A17. Established in 2002, Fytogreen is a Melbourne and Brisbane-based horticultural manufacturing company. It has been operating for five years and has developed a number of brand names for different horticultural foam products. With Hydrocell, Fytogreen were finalists in the 2004 Save Water Awards and supplied vertical components for a display that won the best display award at the 2005 Sydney Bloom Festival.
Q18. Where do I find out more and/or get a Fytowall vertical garden system from?
A18. Please look at our website: www.verticalgarden.com.au or http://www.fytogreen.com.au/products/verticalgarden/index.html
Fytowall - Melbourne head office
03 9770 8377
info@fytogreen.com.au
Geoff Heard – Managing Director
0409 787 656
gheard@fytogreen.com.au
Stuart Tyler – Sales and Marketing Manager
0407 818 074
styler@fytogreen.com.au |
