Living Wall Maintenance

Schedule Regular Maintenance and Upkeep

One of the most important things to consider when reviewing the basics of living wall maintenance is that you are better off doing this maintenance little and often. As part of our guide on how to maintain living walls, you’ll soon realise that the more often you spend a short amount of time looking after the living wall, the easier it will be to maintain it to a high quality. There are certain tasks to complete on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis, all of which will help to keep green walls looking vibrant and lively for a long time to come.

Daily Tasks

Living walls don’t need much work on a daily basis, but you will want to assign someone to give it a quick visual check each day. You can use this time to observe any brown or wilting tip leaves and take immediate action should you notice an issue. The more often you check out your green living walls, the easier it will be to spot an issue and resolve it.

Weekly Tasks

On a weekly basis, you’ll want to give the living wall a thorough review for dead leaves and remove them once found. During your weekly check, review the soil moisture level and make adjustments as needed to ensure your plants are getting the support they need. Spray your living wall on a weekly basis with essential oil or detergent. To maintain the greatest appearance and support for your living wall, soak the felt material and the leaves.

Monthly Tasks

In the summer and spring season, it’s important to fertilise the living wall on a monthly basis. It is recommended that you apply two scoops of fertiliser and then top with water. If you have a recirculating unit, add one scoop of fertiliser to the water tank. For units like these, you’ll also need to check the water level monthly and top it off as needed.

Every Six Months

The water in the recirculating tank should be completely changed twice a year. Use a pump and a container to drain the water, and then dispose of it properly. After that, refill the tank with clean water to protect your plants and keep them healthy.

Annually

Every year, you’ll need to change out the batteries if you are using an irrigation timer. At the same time, it’s important to check and clean the filters. Of course, if you detect any issues before this annual check, it’s always worth checking the filter as this could be a source of the problem.

Risks of Over-Watering

One common issue we notice when it comes to living wall maintenance is over-watering the plants. In low-light environments, this can cause the roots to rot. It’s better to take a little and often approach to water your living walls to avoid causing damage to the plants. Keep in mind that the signs of over-watering can be very similar to those of underwatering. If you see brown tips on the leaves, then check the soil to see if it is in fact too wet. Root rot can be fatal to your plants and can undo all of the other good work you do when it comes to living wall maintenance.

Pest Control

Another key thing to think about with living walls is pest control. Spraying your living wall on a weekly basis with essential oil and a light biodegradable detergent can help to avoid infestations. The little amount of detergent on the leaves will disrupt the surface and stop it from appealing to small insects. This makes it hard for them to survive and stops them from taking over your green wall.

By following these tips for living wall maintenance and ensuring you carry out the suggested tasks on a regular basis, you can work to protect your plants and extend the life of your green wall. Our team will be here to support you with installing and maintaining a living wall in your workplace or home. We know the many benefits of adding this type of green installation to any space and will work with you to enhance the atmosphere of any space. Contact us today to discover more about installing living walls or to discuss any questions you have about living wall maintenance.