How to Create a Green Wall With Succulents

Over the years, our nursery has been linked to many interesting projects that benefit from the diverse characteristics of succulents. One in the most intriguing was the preparation of some green walls for the flower show in San Francisco. The designer wanted some large panels with geometric shapes, along with a smaller "picture" to hang with these. When it was completed, we felt this project was highly successful, so we planned to share our process for creating green walls.
The first challenge would have been to increase the risk for support structure that might maintain your plants set up, and permit for care. We settled on a plywood back, having a wood edge, and after that horizontal metal flashing for "shelves" every 12 inches to keep the soil. The shelves were coupled to the plywood backing with short screws. Drip tubes were placed over the bottom of each and every shelf then when the panel was placed upright, the tubes could be down the top of each and every "layer of soil. With  fake brick wall tiles , each soil "shelf" may be watered along its entire width.
All of the layers were filled with potting soil. You should use as finely textured potting soil as you can find, since the drainage will be very good due to the effective 12" depth of the soil (the space between your "shelves".) A layer of forest moss was put on surface of the potting soil and after that one inch chicken wire was placed over the whole panel retained by attaching the perimeters on the plywood edge. You will also need to wire the chicken wire either towards the shelves or on the plywood panel wires to maintain the "face" from bulging out once the panel is put upright.
The panels were planted over the chicken wire and moss inside the pattern specified by the designer. Succulents provide a good variety of leaf shapes and color used to produce a broad range of textures and design. Be sure to consider the final size of the plants when you develop your design.
After planting, panels were grown in a horizontal position before the succulents were well-established. When completed, these panels were some of the most stunning items we have ever had here. And they represent just a few of the unlimited possibilities for green wall panels. With a little effort and imagination, you can do something similar to your garden, deck and patio.