Use of spicy aromatic plants in vertical greening

Abstract

The article presents the advantages of vertical greenery to create urban development and improve the ecological condition of urban areas. The possibility of using spicy-aromatic crops in vertical greenery, which is an effective way of urban farming. The classification of vertical landscaping by types of plant placement is given and it is determined that modular phytowalls are the most suitable type of vertical plant placement according to the morphological features of spicy-aromatic plants. It is noted that additional research is needed on the possibility of growing perennial aromatic plants in light and relatively inexpensive hydroponic panels — Vertical garden system technology, developed by French designer Patrick Blanc. The technology of creation and functioning of spicy-aromatic phytowalls with the help of container and modular systems of vertical landscaping such as Cascade Wall and Pixel Garden PG14 is described. Attention is focused on the importance of the correct selection of the species composition of aromatic plants to create vertical compositions. The morphological and ecological features of the most common spicy-aromatic plants of the Lamiaceae family are characterized, which are the key parameters that determine the suitability of the described plants for use in vertical greenery. To create phytowalls outside and indoors, it is recommended to use rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), plants of the genus Thymus, Salvia, Mentha, as well as Cymbopogon citratus family Poaceae, Levisticum officinale Koch family Apiaceae and others. Attention is paid to mineral nutrition and protection of spicy-aromatic plants in closed soil conditions. Improvement of vertical landscaping systems and simultaneous search for adaptation of spicy-aromatic plants to the conditions of modular cultivation are relevant research topics for the further spread of this type of landscaping in temperate climates.