Thanks Lynn! I'll take lots of photos I'm sure!

This is going to be such a treat, watching your wall grow.

Lynn (et al) I've been reconsidering...I have an extra shelf from one of those large plastic shelving units, I'm going to wrap it in 1/4 inch hardware cloth (to build up sides) and then use that black weed blocking paper, and start over! I have to empty out half of one of the raised beds, so may as well get on that. Transfer all plants over to this new base, which I think will last several years at least. Then I'm going to take the wooden one indoors and create a succulent mini green wall and have it under grow lights until spring! (lots of work but I know I made several mistakes on this first try, so I'm good to do this! And I like the idea of using "found" or "upcycled" materials!
Its all been a learning experience!

Good for you! Sounds like major project to undertake but I think it will be worth it when everything (photos please so that we have proof that you have been working...) is the way that you want it when you look at it and need to care to care for it. I believe in taking control when you can...and be a little fussy about it is OK too!!

It's all a learning process Greg. Keep up the good work.

Bev/Lynn thanks! Its going to be later in the month when I finish the project (s)

Greg, how is your gree wall coming along?

I took this photo this week at our local lumber/hardware/garden center, called VanWells. The gal that runs the garden center is awesome.


This is what yours will look like Greg, when it fills in. How exciting.

Hi Lynn, I haven't worked on it...I am going to begin a new one, I have the supplies just haven't done it yet, what I'm missing is a tarp or heavy plastic to make a cover, so it can lay flat outside and not get too wet, I know this is a little thing but its stopping me. The current "mini green wall" I'm going to redo, and make it be for my baby succulents, of which I have many, my nursery pots are overflowing, so it'd be pretty to have that in the house.
One major thing that I did incorrectly is that I didn't fill the tray with plants!! All of the walls that I've seen now, I can tell they filled the base (tray) without leaving room for growth, as these plants grow, they can grow into each other, I left lots of room and it looks empty - all will be remedied when I redo it (maybe beginning today!)
Your photo though Lynn is gorgeous and an inspiration! I love how you can tell she took 4 inch pots of a mixed semps (the reddish in with the webby one) and left them in that form, making almost a brick look - I love it!!! gives me ideas! I also like the idea of placing the same types of plants in a line or somehow making it less random

Greg, if you are using hardy succulents you don't need to cover them for protection from the rain. Just set something under the corners to keep it up/off the ground. That way they won't become water logged. Right now is great growing conditions for our semps and sedum. They are gearing up for spring.

Lynn you're always so good with the advise...okay so I'm about to get started!
Thank you!

YEAH.

Meanwhile, I finally finished the first part of my new "mini green wall"
I've taken an old metal shelf (measuring 4 feet x 1.5 feet) I took hardware cloth (1/4 inch) and folded it in half to make a stronger edge.
Then I took wire and wrapped it around the pieces to form sides/top and bottom so there is some depth (alittle over 6 inches deep)
Next I placed weed block sheets on the bottom and part way up the sides. Then put some soil in, on top of this, chicken wire then filled a bit more soil, and began placing semps and sedums into this. (sadly I ran out of light, and my hands were frozen so that's it for today)
Monday I'll do more on it, and of course take photos...
This size is really exciting, there is so much space to move semps into! I'm using cactus soil so its lightweight (although when wet I'm sure this will still be heavy - probably will use chain to hang it!)
I'm doing it the correct way! Thanks to Chris, and Lynn!
Photos of the empty frame. The first photo is upside down, Second photo shows how it will be when vertical! Sorry these photos are so large, don't know why? or how to shrink them (oh well)

Cheers

Wow, that is really big Greg. What is going to keep the long sides of hardware cloth from bulging or collapsing? Will you be making a wood frame to hold the sides in place?
That is going to take a lot of semps. It will be magnificent.

I used heavy gauge wire and used this as a brace, and also the chicken wire is wired into place into the hardware cloth sides adding to support...I think this is all going to work - finally! haha Also from a youtube video the plants were placed very close, I'm going to leave a bit of room but not as much as my first attempt.
With the old frame I'm going to drill holes in the bottom, add the weed block, then replant with succulents and this I'll keep indoors until late spring when it will go outdoors until late summer - then it'll be an indoor thing for the winter!
I'm so excited to have this project finally seeming "right" I know this is going to be the way for me to grow semps! (as long as I live in this apartment anyway!)
Talk soon

I can't wait to see the finished project. Even if you move out of the apartment, into a place with a yard, this will be very nice out in your yard year round.

Looks like you will need a lot more semps to fill up that baby. Happy shopping come Spring!! :hurray

I'm hoping mine will have lots and lots of babies! (oh yeah and the trading!)

That is big Greg. It's going to be so much fun filling it with plants!

Here are some photos of what I got thus far! its exciting, now I just have to wait and see what grows

in case you were wondering what the "white thing at the top is?"

I know its a bit "sarcophagus" looking - spooky!
Cheers

Wow Greg. I didn't know you had that many semps. It is wonderful, just wait until this spring when all of those start putting out offsets. Takes my breath away thinking about it.
You could even start sedum on the outsides of the frame.