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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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. 

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.

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

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