What do you do if you can’t grow plants along the ground? Grow upwards!

According to the experts at GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk one of the outdoor trends for the new year will be for people to invest in vertical pocket gardens, to add extra colour and vibrancy to their homes.

Whether you are squeezed for space outdoors or want to introduce something new and exciting, then a vertical pocket garden could be just for you.

The first vertical gardens date back to 3000 BC with the growing of grape vines up walls in the Mediterranean, and they were taken a step further with different varieties of crops as the years progressed.

They were particularly in fashion from the 1920s onwards and are currently trending in online searches today.

A spokesman for GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk said: “If you have no more room in your garden for plants, or indeed have no room at all for plants on the ground, then considering a vertical pocket garden is a great idea.

“All sorts of plants and fruit and vegetables can be grown in small pouches affixed to the wall of your home or outbuilding and provided they are looked after with enough sunlight and water throughout the year, they can thrive as well as other plants at ground level.”

Here are some top tips from GardenBuildingsDirect.co.uk for introducing a vertical pocket garden into your property.

It is helpful to erect a sturdy wooden frame against the wall, which can be drilled into the concrete or brickwork with screws. This means that when the material pouches are fixed into place, they are slightly apart from the wall.

Do not rush installation and follow accompanying instructions carefully. Vertical pocket gardens not installed correctly can promote rot if put up hastily and without care, as they can otherwise hold moisture against the wall.

There are a wide variety of fruit and vegetable plants which can be grown in a vertical garden including carrots, broccoli, strawberries, peppers and potatoes. The list is endless.

Elsewhere, ferns are particularly popular for growing vertically up walls as they are humid resistant and adaptive to different environments. Vines, herbs and bromeliads (which have shallow roots and need little space) are other choices you can consider.

Vertical pocket gardens are easier to maintain than a regular garden. Working at eye level is easier than having to bend down and they are at less risk of damage from pests and disease as the plants are spaced apart in containers or pouches.

Consider introducing matting or rubber flooring immediately beneath the vertical pocket garden to help prevent dripping water from damaging the space below.