Plain and simple: if you want to emanate quality of life and attract more people ~ locals, customers, tourists-- make streets green! Green 'up' buildings, walkways, courtyards, paths and passages. This is already well known in small towns that rely on tourism; flowers and foliage along small shop entrances and otherwise uninteresting corners bring unparalleled charm. In addition to street trees and flower beds, tourist hot-spots will usually have many greened facades. Street greening is simply beautiful. Naturally, these vertical or street gardens must be cultivated and maintained, just as any garden must be cared for.
Street greening in any style is not only beautiful, but it offers ecological advantages and an ambience of higher quality of life. It increases the aesthetic quality and slows the hectic tempo of the passers-by who tend to pause a while to enjoy the nature. It is a naturally created 'decelerator'! Shop windows are enjoyed more thoroughly, people stop in street cafés longer, the sales volume of shops and eateries increases.
First collect inspiration and ideas from towns which have already successfully greened their streets, such as some of the German "Rosenstädte" ("Rose Cities"). You will find examples below. Usually greening starts with annuals planted in containers and placed near facades; from there they climb on wires, cords, rope, trelliswork, etc., even climbing horizontally on high-set tensioned ropes or on existing electric cables to create green roofs and garlands. Flower shops are often the first to initiate; the city may provide planters for eventual facade coverage, and municipalities may even promote the use of flower boxes. In subsequent urbanisation plans or city centre rehabilitations, planting areas / flower beds can then be created for future greenings. For this, the plants, flowers, trees, and climbers must be correctly determined and cultivated.
An alley in Naumberg, Germany with grapevines
View this gallery for examples of greening in public places. Try to imagine what these places would look like without the greenery...
