Maintenance of Vertical Greening Systems

Techniques of plant replacement vary depending on the type of living wall system:

• Geotextile mats – small plants can be easily pulled out and replaced by new ones, but larger ones whose roots have grown into the felt will need to be cut out and a new patch of non-woven textile sewn in before replanting.
• Modular panels – large plants are comparatively easy to remove, unless their roots have become entangled with those of other plants, in which case they will need to be cut with a knife. The pot size of the replacement plants must fit exactly into the holes in the panel. The replanted plants need special care for first few weeks while they grow into the growing medium.
• Pots and troughs – plants in individual pots are easy to replace, while large plants in troughs may need to be cut out if their roots have become entangled with those of other plants.

Always use a substrate similar to the existing one, unless it is too dry or too wet most of the time. If so add black peat, compost or zeolite to make a denser substrate with higher water retention, or perlite to make it lighter and more porous.

Living walls should be replanted using the appropriate safety equipment for working at height (see chapter 2.1). Alternatively, modular panels may be removed, replanted and returned to the living wall.