Thinking Upwards: Remember Your Garden’s Vertical Space | Jo Thompson

I learnt this lesson standing on my first tiny London rooftop terrace. I felt completely defeated by the apparent constraints. The space was small, hemmed in, and I stood there worrying about square footage and what I couldn't possibly fit in. It was only when the designer from the garden centre arrived with his sketch pad that everything changed. While I was staring gloomily at the ground, he was looking upwards.

“What about all of this?” he said, waving his arms above our heads.

That was my lightbulb moment. The floor surface was simply where the space began. There was a whole lot more garden above.

Since then, I’ve always thought of gardens as three-dimensional spaces. When we talk about depth, mystery and layers, we’re often referring to plants of different heights  - groundcover, perennials, shrubs, trees and so on -  but vertical gardening takes that idea further. It invites us to use all that volume above: the air itself.

Look Up

Think about your most memorable garden moments  -  do they involve looking upwards? Dappled light filtering through leaves? Roses tumbling over an arch? And yet, when we come to design our own gardens, it’s so easy to forget everything above eye level.

I want you to try something. Step outside and look at your garden, then deliberately look up. See the space in layers: ground level, knee height, eye level, overhead. Each zone offers something different.

Those possibilities are everywhere, and they’re often hiding in plain sight. Walls, fences, the side of the house, that rather uninspiring garage wall. The dead corner where nothing seems to grow (ideal for a tall obelisk). Even all those vacant cubic metres  above a path: an archway could instantly transform that into a space that beckons you on and along.

Structure and Scale

Vertical elements transform how we perceive a garden. They create enclosure quickly and effectively, making even an open space feel all cosy and safe. A pergola walkway can turn a bleak boundary into a green corridor, while a fence clothed in climbers becomes a tapestry of colour and suddenly, the garden feels larger and more layered, more interesting.

The supporting structures matter as much as the plants themselves. The most exquisite clematis will look forlorn on a wobbly trellis. And, on the opposite side of the coin, a grand structure that clashes with its surroundings can overpower the planting entirely. 

The key is proportion. A heavy timber pergola might overwhelm a small courtyard, while delicate wirework can look rather bitty in a large landscape. Trust your instincts -  you will know when something feels too clunky, or too insubstantial.

Natural materials tend to sit most comfortably in garden settings. Timber weathers to a gentle grey that complements almost any planting scheme. Brick and stone walls provide effective backdrops. Even contemporary powder-coated steel can work beautifully if the colour is carefully considered, perhaps echoing window frames or architectural details.

Understanding how plants climb

Not all climbers climb in the same way - this matters when you’re choosing what to grow where.

Twining climbers - such as clematis, honeysuckle and jasmine - wind themselves around supports and need something to grip. Clinging climbers like ivy or climbing hydrangea attach directly to surfaces, making them ideal for large wall areas, though caution is needed with older brickwork. Scrambling roses don’t technically climb at all; they rely entirely on us to tie them in and guide them. And annual climbers such as sweet peas can provide fabulous seasonal coverage while permanent plants are establishing themselves.

One of my favourite combinations is pairing a clematis with a repeat-flowering climbing rose. The clematis weaves through the rose framework, giving you an extended season of colour. It’s one of those combinations that takes just a little thought to set up.

Small Gardens and Seasonality

In a small garden, growing upwards frees up precious ground space. Wall-mounted planters bring planting to eye level. Tall pots arranged at varying heights create instant layering. Overhead structures can support climbers or even hanging containers, creating the feeling of a proper garden room and making the space feel bigger as there’s more to look at.

And then there is the question of seasonality. Vertical spaces offer really good opportunities for successional planting. Early-flowering clematis and trained fruit trees bring spring interest while borders are still waking up. Summer is all about roses, jasmine and honeysuckle, filling the air with scent. Autumn climbers such as Virginia creeper provide amazing colour, while  lingering rose hips add texture and structure.

A few practical notes

Mature climbers can become heavy, especially after rain and in high winds, so supports must be robust from the very beginning. Think about access too -  how will you prune thatthat clematis at the top of a three-metre wall? Consider the amount of root space for container-grown climbers, and be aware of microclimates: the south-facing wall will be warmer and drier than the north-facing one, and the base of any wall may sit in a rain shadow.

These things sound complicates when you first think about them, but they quickly become second nature as you get to know your plants. And getting things right from the start saves a lot of trouble later.

When you begin to think vertically, you are no longer confined by square footage. Look up. There is far more garden there than you think.

Jo writes The Gardening Mind, her weekly Substack where she shares planting insight, design thinking, seasonal inspiration and behind-the-scenes reflections. Read in over 160 countries, it has become a global community of garden and plant lovers drawn to her distinctive approach.

https://jothompson.substack.com/

Jo Recommends: ways to grow upwards

Wall trellis

A well-designed wall trellis is a simple way to introduce vertical planting. It transforms an empty wall, creating height without being too overwhelming. I always look for something strong enough to support a mature climber, yet light enough to allow the planting to take centre stage. Whether covered with clematis, jasmine or a climbing rose, a trellis turns a boundary into a backdrop, distracting the focus away from the wall or fence behind.

Rose arch

An archway instantly alters the experience of moving through a garden. It introduces height, structure and a sense of transition, even in the smallest of spaces. Planted with roses, perhaps paired with a clematis for extended interest, it creates one of those magical looking-up moments, with flowers tumbling overhead and light filtering through leaves. An arch draws the eye both forwards and upwards at the same time, creating depth and that feeling of journey which makes a garden feel larger than it is.

Pergola

A pergola is an immersive experience in the garden. It creates a defined space within a space – perhaps a green corridor, a garden room,  or a shaded walkway. When clad with roses, wisteria or other climbers, a wonderful atmosphere is created. The repetition of uprights and beams adds a sense of rhythm and draws you along, while the planting softens all as it envelops the structure, creating that sense of both enclosure and romance that makes a garden feel complete.