I’ve seen several living walls, also known as vertical gardens, over the years and I’ve absolutely loved every one of them. They are terrific at livening up a space, quite literally. But I realized this past fall (when I took the photos below) that every “living” wall I’d ever come across so far was an interior wall and, well, alive. A large wall would be completely covered in living plants–vines, succulents, ferns, flowering this and that. So when I breezed past this greenery-covered storefront in Sauble Beach, Ontario, late last fall, I did a double-take.

A faux-greenery covered storefront in Sauble Beach, ON.

My thoughts cascaded something like this:

1. Why is this outdoor wall bright green when all around is brown and withered?
2. How is this vertical garden even happening on an exterior wall? In Ontario? Way past summer?
3. I love it!

Detail of the faux greenery covering an exterior wall.

I think what makes this exterior “living” wall (shown above) such a success is that it isn’t trying to be anything more than a fun, eye-catching installation. In other words, it’s not trying to be anything other than fabulously fake.

What’s truly wonderful about the fabulously fake is that in the right spot, it can be an even better solution than the real thing. Google “fauxliage” or “artificial vertical gardens”, etc., and you’re bound to discover oodles of fun, creative ways to use fake plants outside the home and in the garden including:

• creating a space-saving privacy screen
• disguising a garden shed
• hiding an ugly wall
• greening up a side wall or outdoor stairwell that gets no light

One big but often overlooked reason for opting for fake over real plants is saving space. Real plants need room for their roots, maybe some soil, a watering system and so on, which you have to accommodate even when planting vertically. Fake plants have no back end business so the depth of your wall or screen is greatly reduced.

Fauxliage factors

Whether you plan on covering an entire exterior wall or simply fill an outdoor container or hanging basket with eternally green greenery, there are a few caveats to keep in mind.

PLASTIC IS BETTER THAN CLOTH  (Synthetic) silk flowers and greenery can lose their colour and shape quickly if exposed to the elements, water in particular. Plastic is reliably weather-proof.

NOT ANY OLD PLASTIC WILL DO  Look for faux plants made of UV-resistant materials for longest lasting results.

FAKE PLANTS AREN’T COMPLETELY MAINTENANCE-FREE  Although your fauxliage will be far more carefree than your average living garden bed, you’ll still need to give them a light cleaning on occasion to remove dust and debris.

LOCATION IS EVERYTHING  For maximum longevity to the colours and shapes of your fauxliage, position the installation in a shaded area out of direct exposure to wind and rain.

As we head into the brunt of winter, what better time to kick back and have a good long think about garden projects to tackle next spring. Will your garden’s new look involve a touch of preposterous plastic? Fantastic!