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Vertical Garden Design Course

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Vertical Garden Design Course

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Vertical Garden Design Course

Name: Vertical Garden Design Course
Price: 8400 KES
Rating: 4 (128 reviews)

Master every stage of living wall design and installation, from site analysis and plant selection to irrigation engineering and long-term maintenance. This course gives you the technical knowledge and practical skills to deliver professional vertical garden projects with confidence. Whether you're entering the industry or expanding your services, this is the most complete living wall training available.

Dedika for businesses

What you will learn:

You will learn how to assess sites, select appropriate system typologies, and design structurally sound mounting assemblies for both interior and exterior walls. The course covers growing media specification, irrigation and fertigation system design, and automated controls integration. You will develop plant palettes matched to climate zones and aesthetic goals, then learn how to install, commission, and hand over completed projects. Maintenance programme planning, pest diagnostics, and performance reporting are also covered in full. Business development, project costing, regulatory compliance, and biophilic design integration round out your professional skill set.

How you study practically Vertical Garden Design Course

How you practise Vertical Garden Design Course

For companies looking to train their teams

With Dedika for businesses, the course includes exercises and examples tailored to your own business and the way your company needs.

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Course content

8 Chapters • 40 LessonsDuration between 4 and 360 hours (you decide)

Chapter 1See details

Foundations of Vertical Garden Systems

Lesson 1 • Ecological Principles Underpinning Green Walls
Covers plant physiology, nutrient cycling, and microclimate interactions relevant to vertical installations. Grounds design choices in biological reality.
Lesson 2 • History and Evolution of Living Walls
Traces vertical greening from ancient hanging gardens to modern modular systems. Provides historical context that frames contemporary design decisions.
Lesson 3 • Benefits and Performance Metrics
Quantifies thermal insulation, air quality, acoustic, and stormwater benefits of living walls. Equips students to build evidence-based project justifications.
Lesson 4 • Industry Roles and Project Stakeholders
Maps the professional landscape including designers, horticulturists, engineers, and clients. Clarifies communication responsibilities across project teams.
Lesson 5 • Typology and Classification of Systems
Distinguishes green facades, continuous living walls, and modular panel systems by structure and function. Enables accurate system selection for given project conditions.

Chapter 2See details

Site Analysis and Environmental Assessment

Lesson 1 • Wind, Temperature, and Humidity Profiling
Covers anemometer use, thermal imaging, and humidity logging for vertical surface environments. Profiles guide plant hardiness selection and irrigation scheduling.
Lesson 2 • Structural Capacity and Wall Substrate Analysis
Evaluates load-bearing capacity, wall material, and surface condition for mounting suitability. Prevents costly structural failures during and after installation.
Lesson 3 • Solar Radiation and Light Mapping
Teaches measurement and modeling of solar exposure across vertical surfaces throughout the year. Light data directly informs plant palette and system orientation decisions.
Lesson 4 • Water Source and Drainage Assessment
Identifies available water supply, pressure, quality, and drainage pathways at the site. Ensures irrigation system design is matched to real site constraints.
Lesson 5 • Compiling and Presenting Site Reports
Structures all collected data into a professional site assessment document with recommendations. Prepares students to communicate findings clearly to multidisciplinary teams.

Chapter 3See details

Plant Selection and Palette Design

Lesson 1 • Aesthetic Composition and Planting Design
Applies colour theory, texture contrast, and seasonal interest principles to vertical planting layouts. Produces visually compelling designs that remain coherent through the year.
Lesson 2 • Sourcing, Specification, and Documentation
Covers nursery sourcing, plant specification writing, and palette documentation standards. Ensures procurement accuracy and traceability across the supply chain.
Lesson 3 • Plant Physiology for Vertical Environments
Examines root architecture, transpiration, and stress responses specific to vertical growing conditions. Builds the biological foundation for informed species selection.
Lesson 4 • Functional Plant Categories
Categorises plants by growth habit, root type, and maintenance demand for vertical use. Enables designers to balance aesthetics with long-term performance.
Lesson 5 • Climate Zone and Hardiness Matching
Applies hardiness zone data and microclimate findings to filter viable species for each project. Reduces plant mortality risk through systematic climate matching.

Chapter 4See details

Structural Systems and Mounting Methods

Lesson 1 • Anchoring and Fixing Methods
Details mechanical anchor types, chemical fixings, and rail systems for diverse wall substrates. Correct fixing selection prevents structural failure and water ingress.
Lesson 2 • Load Calculation Fundamentals
Calculates dead, live, wind, and seismic loads acting on vertical garden assemblies. Accurate load data is the prerequisite for all structural design decisions.
Lesson 3 • Frame and Support Structure Typologies
Compares steel, aluminium, and composite frame systems by weight, corrosion resistance, and cost. Guides material selection aligned with site conditions and budget.
Lesson 4 • Interior vs. Exterior Structural Considerations
Contrasts structural, thermal, and moisture requirements for indoor and outdoor installations. Prevents design errors caused by applying exterior solutions to interior contexts.
Lesson 5 • Waterproofing and Moisture Management
Covers membrane selection, drainage mat installation, and cavity ventilation behind living wall assemblies. Protects building fabric from moisture damage over the system lifespan.

Chapter 5See details

Growing Media and Substrate Technology

Lesson 1 • Substrate Blending and Specification
Guides formulation of custom blends by adjusting component ratios to meet project-specific criteria. Produces reproducible substrate specifications for procurement and quality control.
Lesson 2 • Organic and Fibre-Based Substrate Components
Covers coir, composted bark, biochar, and felt mats as organic media components for nutrient retention. Organic fractions support microbial activity and long-term fertility.
Lesson 3 • Inorganic and Mineral Substrate Components
Examines perlite, pumice, rockwool, expanded clay, and lava rock as lightweight inorganic media options. Inorganic components provide structural stability and drainage in blended substrates.
Lesson 4 • Substrate Longevity and Replacement Planning
Assesses degradation rates, compaction risk, and replacement intervals for common media types. Enables accurate lifecycle cost modelling and maintenance scheduling.
Lesson 5 • Properties of Ideal Vertical Growing Media
Defines porosity, bulk density, water-holding capacity, and CEC as key media performance criteria. Links each property to plant health and structural load outcomes.

Chapter 6See details

Irrigation and Fertigation System Design

Lesson 1 • Automation, Controls, and Smart Sensors
Integrates timers, soil moisture sensors, and IoT controllers into automated irrigation programmes. Reduces labour costs and improves consistency of water and nutrient delivery.
Lesson 2 • Pump, Reservoir, and Pipe Sizing
Applies flow rate and pressure calculations to size pumps, reservoirs, and pipe diameters accurately. Prevents under- or over-specification that causes system failure or waste.
Lesson 3 • Drip, Mist, and Flood Irrigation Methods
Compares drip emitter, misting nozzle, and flood-and-drain delivery methods by efficiency and plant suitability. Enables selection of the optimal method for each system type.
Lesson 4 • Irrigation Principles for Vertical Systems
Explains gravity, pressure, and capillary action as they apply to water distribution on vertical surfaces. Establishes hydraulic principles that underpin all system design choices.
Lesson 5 • Fertigation and Nutrient Management
Covers nutrient solution formulation, EC and pH monitoring, and dosing system integration. Maintains optimal plant nutrition without over-fertilisation or substrate salt buildup.

Chapter 7See details

Installation, Commissioning, and Handover

Lesson 1 • Irrigation System Installation and Testing
Covers pipe routing, emitter placement, pump connection, and pressure testing of the completed system. Verified hydraulic performance before planting prevents post-installation failures.
Lesson 2 • Pre-Installation Planning and Logistics
Covers sequencing, material staging, access planning, and coordination with other trades on site. Effective pre-planning prevents delays and damage during installation.
Lesson 3 • Frame and Panel Installation Procedures
Details step-by-step fixing, leveling, and alignment procedures for frames and modular panels. Precision at this stage ensures uniform plant growth and system longevity.
Lesson 4 • Commissioning, Testing, and Client Handover
Formalises system performance verification, documentation compilation, and client training at handover. A structured handover protects the installer and empowers the client.
Lesson 5 • Planting Techniques and Establishment
Demonstrates correct planting density, root zone preparation, and initial watering protocols for vertical systems. Proper establishment practices reduce early plant mortality significantly.

Chapter 8See details

Maintenance, Diagnostics, and Long-Term Management

Lesson 1 • Plant Replacement and Renovation Strategies
Guides decisions on spot replacement, zone renovation, and full replanting based on plant health data. Timely renovation maintains aesthetic quality and system performance.
Lesson 2 • Plant Health Diagnostics and Pest Management
Teaches visual diagnosis of nutrient deficiencies, diseases, and pest infestations in vertical plantings. Early accurate diagnosis minimises plant loss and chemical intervention.
Lesson 3 • Performance Monitoring and Reporting
Establishes KPIs, data logging methods, and reporting formats for ongoing living wall performance. Data-driven reporting supports client retention and continuous improvement.
Lesson 4 • Irrigation System Maintenance and Troubleshooting
Covers emitter flushing, filter cleaning, pump servicing, and fault diagnosis for irrigation systems. Reliable water delivery is the single most critical factor in living wall survival.
Lesson 5 • Routine Maintenance Programme Design
Structures weekly, monthly, and annual maintenance tasks into a scheduled programme for living walls. Consistent scheduling prevents minor issues from escalating into costly failures.

Certification

Your valid completion certificate

This course is for you:

Landscape designer: ready to add vertical garden projects to their service portfolio.
Horticulturist: wants to apply plant knowledge to structured, engineered growing environments.
Interior designer: seeking to incorporate living walls into commercial and hospitality spaces.
Contractor or installer: looking to offer a premium, differentiated service to existing clients.
Career changer: drawn to green infrastructure and wants a rigorous technical foundation.
Facilities manager: responsible for maintaining existing living walls without adequate training.

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