10 Rooftop Gardens That Bring Gardening to New Heights

Gardening is a way to connect with the earth, and this connection becomes even more striking in a rooftop garden, where the earth sits closer to the sky. Rooftop gardens allow city dwellers to embrace their valuable outdoor space and interact with nature. While some rooftop gardens are created using potted plants, others are lawn-like environments, magically transformed by their urban owners. Whether your rooftop space is large or small, it has the potential to become a lush oasis. Click through our photo gallery to pluck some ideas for designing your own garden in the sky.

By Cody Calamaio | Updated Aug 18, 2015 01:33 PM

Upper Decker

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Rooftop Lawn

This patio's rooftop is planted with greenery to create a patch of lawn that seems to hover in the air. The living roof helps cool the space below while transforming the adjacent sundeck into a verdant retreat.

amazinginteriordesign.com

Contain Yourself

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Rooftop Container Garden

If you don't have lots of room to plant, use containers to create a pint-size garden. These space-efficient tiered wooden planters maximize walking room, and their elevation makes them easy to maintain without too much strain on the back and knees.

blog.williams-sonoma.com

The Hills Are Alive

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Roof Landscaping

Landscaped mounds of earth on this contemporary rooftop lawn enhance visual interest and provide places to lounge.

homedsgn.com

Living Shingles

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Rooftop Flower Garden

Not all rooftop gardens need to be full size and fully accessible. This picturesque shed features a pitched roof planted with sedum and other colorful succulents.

hgtv.com

Zen Garden

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Raised Beds on Rooftop

This rooftop garden keeps everything in its place. Austere rectangular planters contain and distill nature in a manicured and calming way. 

portandquarter.com

Urban Balcony Garden

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Urban Rooftop Garden

You don't need a great big outdoor area to create a lush urban rooftop. These gardeners created an exuberant display of greenery by layering clusters of pots on a skinny balcony to take advantage of the sun.

gardenista.com

Expansive Oasis

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Rooftop Garden

This rooftop garden in the city makes the most of its considerable square footage with a range of vegetation and plenty of seating. It's a garden that invites lingering and exploring.

1001gardens.org

Hodgepodge Potting

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Hodgepodge Potting

Expensive, store-bought planters do not a garden make. In this quirky yet carefully conceived rooftop space, dresser drawers, boxes, and even an old guitar were pressed into service as impromptu planters

apartmenttherapy.com

Walk On

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Rooftop Patio

In this urban apartment, a standard-issue patio became a serene and green perch by replacing the typical concrete with ground cover, and outfitting the space with a pair of formal planters. Pavers leading out from the door encourage a stroll to the chaise or a quick turn around the patio.

apartmenttherapy.com

Rooftop Wildlands

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Rooftop Meadow

This rooftop garden in Brooklyn harnesses wildflowers and grass to create an uninhibited storybook style that transports visitors to a faraway land.

1001gardens.org

For More...

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For More...

For more incredible garden ideas, check out:

On the Edge: 16 Garden Borders You Can Make

Garden Paths: 16 Easy-to-Imitate Stone Walkways

Great Entrances: 10 Welcoming Garden Gates

theownerbuildernetwork.co

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