If you’ve ever thought about investing in a vertical garden planter, you’ve likely ended up in a daze with all the options out there, and who could blame you?
There are so many different types of vertical garden planters on the market, with prices ranging from $10 to $1000, so we’re going to break it down to basics and run through some of the best on the market in 2024.
We’ll be exploring different types of vertical garden planters, as well as green wall systems, and explaining the pros and cons of growing in walls against growing in towers, to help you decide what’s going to work best in your space.
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Top Pick
Best Value
Premium Choice
Best Vertical Garden Planters for 2024
Product | Our Rating | Price | |
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6. Mr. Stacky Vertical Strawberry Planter |  | ||
7. Aivituvin Vertical Raised Garden Bed |  | ||
8. Kinbor Hanging Vertical Wall Planter |  |
Vertical Garden Planters Buying Guide
Different Types of Vertical Garden Planters
Vertical garden planters come in two styles, and both have unique benefits. Tower styles, like Strawberry towers, or The Garden Tower, are ideally suited to needier crops that need regular sunlight, and warmer conditions right through spring, summer and autumn.
The best models can be rolled around the garden on castors, and the cheaper ones can usually be taken apart. Vertical Wall planters on the other hand are as astatic as static comes. Once you’ve got the planter installed, they’re there to stay.
There has been a growing trend in green walls over the last few years, and there are plenty of ways to achieve it; from traditional climbing roses or wisteria trained on trellis or wire up the side of a house, to sectional planting systems like the Worth Garden Self Watering Vertical Pocket Garden which give gardeners the flexibility to move plants around, and rethink designs.
What to Consider When Buying a Vertical Garden Planter
Before you start building your vertical garden, there are some important things to consider:
Vertical Garden Planter Installation
If you live in a rented property, this is easy, buy a tower system. You can take it with you when you leave, and you won’t need to make any changes to walls or fences.
If you own your home, the choice is based on your location. If you’ve got a good bright wall or fence facing the sun and think you'll have enough natural light and water to the planter, go for a vertical wall planter system.
You’ll never need to move it and if you set it up right, you’ll barely need to water it either. The only worry is installation, knowing you’ll have to drill into external walls can be off putting, but all systems come with instructions for installation.
Planting Space
Planting space can sometimes be a little hard to understand with vertical garden planters. Essentially, if they have single pockets, that’s enough for one plant, so a planter with 50 pockets will fit 50 plants.
If however, you’re looking at larger options, with long planting sections, you’ll likely get 3-4 plants per pocket, so a planter with 28 pockets, will fit over 86 plants.
And space can often be taken away by built-in irrigation or compost systems, so make sure you understand how much space is for soil, and how much is for other things.
In the case of the two most expensive per square foot (Wonderwall and The Garden Tower) the compost element directly feeds the plants, as do the reservoirs in Wonderwall systems, so sometimes compost space can be foregone to make way for more efficient growth.
Watering Vertical Planters
The simple question you have to ask yourself when planning to use vertical planters is “am I prepared to add to this?” If the answer is no, and you don’t want to set up your own irrigation, or water manually, spend a little extra on irrigated systems, or planters with reservoirs, or composting compartments.
If the answer is yes, all you need is some rope, or a soaker hose, and a water butt, and some care and attention. There are great guides out there on how to do this.
Why Do I Need a Vertical Garden Planter?
Vertical garden planters are usually sold as space saving solutions for small spaces but, honestly, space doesn’t really factor into it. Green walls are better than brick walls, they improve air quality, process toxins and provide habitats and food for insects.
And an added bonus, they insulate your home by using the sun’s heat in summer, and storing it for winter much more effectively than bricks and mortar.
Tower garden planters often have dual purposes too, but I’ve never come across one with such an efficient compost system before.
How to Use a Vertical Garden Planter
A word of caution when installing any vertical garden planter. Whether they are wall mounted, or self-standing, they need to be set up exactly according to their individual instructions.
Wall mounted systems need proper fixings to hold their weight, and self-standing planters can be up to 6ft tall, and should be placed away from anywhere children are likely to knock into them (some stacking posts have central drainage holes which can be used to insert a metal rod to the ground to give added stability).
Vertical Garden Planter Reviews
1. Worth Garden 36 Pockets Self Watering Vertical Planters
Worth Garden Self Watering Vertical Planters are on pretty much every gardener’s Christmas list, but priced at $15 per section they’re not cheap. With that cost comes a wealth of benefits though.
Worth Garden vertical garden planters don’t need watering. They have their own reservoirs, which can be connected to drainpipes and will expel excess water so your plants don’t drown.
They can be added to at any time with their clever interlocking design, so even if you’re on a budget you can buy as much or a little as you can afford, and add to your green wall over time.
Probably the biggest attraction for most gardeners, is that the Worth Garden system works by simply placing pots straight from the garden centre directly into their pockets
Pros
- Materials: 100% Recycled Plastic
- Self-watering
- Low maintenance
- Attractive, professional finish
- Easy to install
- Generous planting pockets
Cons
- Cost: Expensive as you have to buy per-component. There are bulk options, but additional planters are usually needed to fill space effectively.
2. Ogrmar 64 Pockets Vertical Wall Planter
Ogrmar 64 Pockets Vertical Wall Garden Planter are a brilliant budget option for any gardener looking to maximise small spaces, and are a great alternative to more expensive vertical garden planters; though they do require a little more watering and attention than our top-rated system.
Our top-rated product is a higher spec version of this same vertical planting system, and boasts self-watering reservoirs.
If you’re savvy enough, you can save on expensive water bills by connecting a water butt kit to the budget option, either using a soaker hose, or a jute rope (capillary action will stop soil drying out completely).
Pros
- Materials: Felt
- Cost: Cheap
- Space: 64 planting pockets
- Easy to install
- Easy to use
- Compact & Lightweight
Cons
- High maintenance watering
3. Garden Tower 2™, 50-Plant Composting Vertical Garden Planter
The Garden Tower is a swiss army knife for the garden and a great option for balcony gardening. This is by far the best vertical garden planter on the market, it’s an excellent hot composter too.
A hot composter can set you back $200-300, but for most households it’s unusual to make enough kitchen waste to fill it. For a normal family kitchen, The Garden Tower is more than enough composting space for scraps.
The Garden Tower is a portable, compact, durable alternative to standard stable units, and is infinitely more attractive than your average black bin compost system.
Pros
- Includes compost system
- Space: 50 planting pockets
- Simple assembly
- Compact
- Easy to use
- Portable
Cons
- Cost: More expensive than most other options
- Materials: Virgin Plastic
4. FOME HOME 5 Tier Vertical Planter with Movable Pallet Caddy
A couple of steps down from The Garden Tower, in price, and functionality, is the rolling planter from FOME.
OK, so it doesn’t turn your kitchen scraps into compost, and it doesn’t have 50 planting pockets, but for a simple set up, which gives you more space than an average pot, and saves on watering it’s a perfect choice.
With 15 planting pockets that can either have pots inserted, or compost packed directly into each tier, it’s a big space saver.
Plus, it comes with a caddy as standard, so no need to splash out on any added extras, meaning you can set it up in minutes, and move it around the garden with the seasons to keep your salad leaves in the sunny spot they need all year round.
Pros
- Cost: Certainly not overpriced, and much better value than similar models
- Simple assembly
- Compact
- Easy to use
- Portable
Cons
- No water reservoir
- Materials: Virgin Plastic
- Space: 15 planting pockets
5. NEWKITS Vertical Wall Garden Planter
These felt grow bags by NEWKITS are a great space saver. They might only have 6 planting pockets, but they make up for that with the generous size of each.
The pocket style planters give something you just don’t get with the modular systems or towers in the way of space.
By keeping them slim lined at the base, they will fit in more awkward parts of the garden, against a wall or fence, and let you be a little more playful with your planting.
If you’re going to go for a vertical garden planter, why not treat it like a garden, and start thinking about plant pairings? Pop some tomatoes (See our tomato growing guide here) and basil in one section, and strawberries and mint in another.
Simply attach the system to the wall outside the kitchen door and you’ll be harvesting all sorts right through summer.
Pros
- Cost: Incredible value, at around $20
- Space: 6 generous planting pockets
- Materials: Felt
- Compact
- Easy to use
Cons
- No water reservoir
6. Mr. Stacky Vertical Strawberry Planter
These vertical strawberry planter have been around for decades, and they’ll be around for decades more because they’re fool proof. You can stack them as tall as you like, and pick them up for a few dollars per tier in most hardware shops.
Strawberry planters are, as the name suggests, designed for strawberries but can also be used for growing herbs, flowers, and succulents using limited space. Simply fill with compost and pop one plant in per pocket.
After a few months you’ll have a trailing mass of strawberries pouring over the edges which, because of the alternating tiers, will crawl down and make new plants in the layer below for the following year.
I love these mini vertical planters, but if you’re after something that comes fully prepared, maybe steer clear of these self-standing modular systems.
Pros
- Cost: Incredible value, at around $20
- Compact
- Easy to use
Cons
- No water reservoir
- Not particularly tall
- Space: 15 planting pockets
- Materials: Virgin plastic
7. Aivituvin Vertical Raised Garden Bed
This is maybe a personal bias, but I love this planter. Wherever possible I try to keep planters either timber or ceramic. It’s not necessarily a sustainable choice, but they suit any garden style.
This Aivituvin option is a little pricy for what it is, but is easy to maintain, has plenty of soil space, and lets you garden the way you’re used to.
Like any vertical garden planter without a reservoir, it’s best to keep it out of full sun.
Pros
- Materials: Timber
- Incredibly attractive option for any classic gardens style
- Good water retention (due to increased soil capacity)
Cons
- Cost: at almost $100 this isn’t exactly a budget friendly option, or great values per square foot of planting space
- Space: Limited
- Not particularly tall
8. Kinbor Hanging Vertical Wall Planter
The major criticism of vertical garden planters, in any form, is that they limit planting space, and root growth. It’s true of course, but there are ways around it.
However, Kinbor’s offering is the generous 6 piece, long-planter system, which will last a lifetime, and give masses of growing space for young plants to spread.
In no way will this give you instant impact, but that’s not what they are offering. This is the option for the serious gardener, who is willing to give a little time and effort to create their own hanging gardens.
Pros
- Materials: Environmentally protected Polypropylene
- Space: Very generous
- Cost: $110+ It’s on the pricier side, but in terms of value per square foot of root space, it’s incredible value
- Good water retention (due to increased soil capacity)
- Easy to install
- Includes self-watering options for soaker hose and rope
Cons
- Don’t expect instant impact from this fairly basic looking set of wall mounted pots. It relies on the plants for its beauty.
Vertical Planter Top Picks for 2024
Our Top Pick Vertical Garden Planter
Worth Garden vertical planters are our all round best vertical garden planters right now. Their spacious planting pockets, plus ease of installation makes them a great choice for any gardener looking to make an impact.
They can be customized to whatever space you have available, and there is always the option to add more at a later date if their higher than average price point is a little too much to spend all at once.
Best Value Vertical Garden Planter
Ogrmar 64 Pockets Vertical Wall Garden Planter might not be as durable as the solid plastic options, but they fill huge spaces easily and quickly. Yes you’re going to have to water a little more regularly, but its worth the effort for the saving you’ll make.
For any wall mounted system, make a choice based on the space you can cover, and remember it’s not what it looks like when you buy it, but what it looks like this time next year; when it’s full to the brim with verdant foliage.
Premium Choice Vertical Garden Planter
The Garden Tower does everything. By taking care of composting, watering, and insulating your plants for you, there’s barely any maintenance to do once you’ve got it set up and ready to go.
While it is more expensive than other options, you’re getting something completely unique, so if for something that helps reduce your household waste and brightens up your garden in the process, it’s a no brainer.
Vertical Garden Planter Frequently Asked Questions
What are the benefits of vertical gardening?
Vertical gardens are very effective at filtering pollutants and carbon dioxide from the air. They insulate homes, and store heat in their planting pockets to release in winter.
What can I plant in a vertical planter?
This depends on the types of planter, but for irrigated systems, they are great space saving vegetable gardens. For systems without irrigation, ferns and ivy will put up with drier conditions.
What are the disadvantages of vertical gardening?
Vertical garden planters have historically needed more maintenance and watering than plants in the ground, but modern self-irrigated systems make this much more manageable.
How much do vertical gardens cost?
This depends on the types you choose, but can be as little as $10 and as much as $1000. Mid-range systems are usually available from $60.
Get the Best Vertical Garden Planter for Your Growing Space
Vertical planters are a must for any gardener looking to make the most of their space. Whether you have a tiny 10x4 foot yard, or acres of land, using every inch of space is a great way to help out wildlife, and bring a smile to visitors’ faces.
What’s more, they help insulate your home, reduce watering, and can even help by composting kitchen waste.
There are two main types of garden planter, wall-mounted and free-standing, and it's entirely up to your personal preference what you choose, but if you’re after instant impact it’s the Wonderwall which you need in your life.
Grow as much as you like as tall as you like, and spread the cost by adding more sections whenever the mood takes you.
For a more eco-conscious option to help reduce your household waste, water use and help to reduce food miles by making it easier to grow your own veg, it has to be The Garden Tower, the only vertical garden planter to double up as a hot compost bin.
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