55 Relaxing Rooftop Garden Ideas For The Plant-Lovers

Have you ever considered looking at rooftop garden ideas?

Having an affinity for gardening and wanting to nourish it could be a challenge when you don’t have a backyard. Especially if you live in an urban setting, this may prove to be a huge hurdle. Even homes that are not necessarily in urban cities, could find it challenging to start gardening without the luxury of a backyard.

However, there is an alternative solution to this problem! That unoccupied space above your building could just be your relaxing paradise! Living especially in densely populated urban places can be so stressful. Gardening would not just be a great hobby and a healthy coping mechanism, planning out a rooftop garden where you could just unwind and relax is a terrific idea!

Obviously, planting or building your own rooftop garden is not easy. You can’t just simply plant shrubs on the concrete or wooden ground. But with a little research and some planning, you may able to work out quite some rooftop garden ideas.

Tips to Start a Rooftop Garden

Sift through your rooftop garden ideas, picking one you most like to carefully think about and plan through. Remember though the golden rule in designing rooftop gardens: sleek, simple, and sophisticated. When the idea is there, you must make sure first that you could follow through with that idea. There are many aspects you should check on first before you could even get started.

Here are some tips for starting with your rooftop garden ideas!

1. First of all, check the local ordinances, rental property rules (especially important if you’re living in an apartment building!), or homeowner association regulations on how rooftop gardens go. They could be prohibited or may need special permits.

2. If it’s allowed, check with your builder or contractor to see if your roof can handle the weight of soil, containers, etc. These people don’t necessarily have to work on the building process but you will need their assistance for these things.

3. Even if your building can take the extra weight of your rooftop garden, that weight should play a significant role in your rooftop garden ideas. Try using as little weight as possible by picking out lightweight materials like plastic or fiberglass. And consider using potting soil instead of garden dirt. This rule is the same for any furniture that may be added to your rooftop garden.

4. Consider that because it’s a rooftop garden, your plants will be more exposed to wind. You may have to incorporate windbreaks. Windbreaks that disrupt the flow of the wind like trellises or lattice windbreaks are suitable for this.

5. If you are surrounded by taller buildings, best take some safety measures by installing fences and miniature shelters for your plants, keeping them from harm from possible falling objects.

6. Speaking of safety, make sure nothing is hanging over the edge or placing pots on ledges that could possibly fall of and cause serious harm to people passing down the street. The balcony or terrace must follow the safe measurement so you won’t accidentally fall off the edge.

7. Consider having a water storage system or an automatic watering system installed in your rooftop garden. Carrying buckets of water to the roof is not practical, so have these considered.

8. Research the types of plants you can grow. It is best to talk to experts about this, so not only do you know which plants are good, but also how to take care of them, especially considering the setting where you’re planting them.

What are good rooftop plants?

The huge difference between rooftop gardens and your regular yard gardens, besides the obvious location, is how much wind your rooftop plants are going to get compared to the ones in the yard. You would also need to look into tough plants that will thrive in sunny, hot or cold, dry, and windy conditions.

In this case, then, finding the right and good rooftop plants should be part of your brainstorming for rooftop garden ideas.

1. Taller, wind-tolerant shrubs are ideal for your rooftop garden. Evergreen trees and shrubs are often drought tolerant. Tough evergreens such as Olearia (daisy-bush), Phormium, Pittosporum (cheesewood), and spotted laurel are recommended. So are junipers, Oregon grape, and arborvitae.

Bamboos could be good too, but the large leaves would sway too much in strong winds, which means the roots will shift and would find it troublesome to establish in their new pots.

2. Plants with fuzzy leaves and silver foliage are capable of slowing the evaporation of water from leaf surfaces like lamb’s ears, lavenders, and sages.

3. Taproot plants have specialized root tissue that stores moisture is suitable. Examples are butterfly weeds, coneflowers, and false indigo.

4. Not only do succulent plants store moisture, but they also grow well in containers. Consider stonecrops, spurges, and yuccas.

What are the critical elements of a rooftop garden?

Apart from all that’s been said above, here are some critical elements of a rooftop garden that you MUST take proper note of.

1. Apart from a doorway to access the rooftop garden, the floor structure will most likely need an upgrade to take all the foot traffic. Again, you would need an engineer to advise you on this.

2. The floor surface must be non-slip. Flat roof coverings like bitumen with stone chipping are suitable. But deck or tiles look often better.

3. Remember that water must be able to flow over the flat roof and drain away. This decking is ideal in that the furring strips between the deck and roof surface can be cut to level out any slope of the roof.

4. That being said an upstand must be installed of at least 75 mm at the door threshold to stop water from getting inside.

5. Balustrade must be erected to a height of 850 mm and fixed securely to the floor as part of safety measurements. Iron railings, toughened glass, or even masonry walls to match with the house are popular choices.

Rooftop Garden Ideas for Inspiration!

Now, let’s take a look at our picks of beautiful rooftop garden ideas!

Burling Place Roof Deck

Hoerr Schaudt Landscape Architects
By the look of this roof deck, with the pergola and fireplace, you can already tell this was a “heavy” project to take on. However, such rooftop garden ideas like this are only possible because of the steel and concrete roof structure below it. In other words, the building’s structural support made it possible for such a design.

Vail Guest House

Coburn Partners
Seeing this house, seems to take the rooftop garden idea quite literally. Built on the side of the hill, the homeowners and architects wanted to help minimize impacts on the house above it, they decided to build this green roof instead.

Custom Rooftop

DCL Outdoor Contracting
There are much to gush about this custom rooftop garden. The little waterfall add-on is a nice touch. The potted plants and trellis are well put. Plus, the roof deck looks like a comfortable lounging space to relax after a long day.

Custom Roofscape Design in NYC

DCL Outdoor Contracting
The beautiful decking of the wall and floor surface is definitely an eye-catcher. But also notice the built-in fireplace that connects to a grill on the other side. Can you just imagine a relaxing and bonding moment with your family here?

San Francisco

Envision Landscape Studio
Consider rooftop garden ideas like this one! Instead of built-in planters, they have these ones with wheels which would make them easier to move if you consider doing some rearrangements in your rooftop garden.

East Village Rooftop Garden

pulltab
There are some built-in planters and a nice pergola to accommodate the plants. The way the climber plants frame the bench seat is pretty cool.

Lill Street Rooftop Deck

Stone Bridge Development Group
This particular rooftop garden is pretty interesting. On the ground, they have succulent plants cover it instead of having built-in planters. But they also have ornamental bamboo, grasses, and flowering perennials in planters. To top it all off, they have an advanced irrigation system installed!

Roof Terrace 02

Mabbott Seidel Architecture
This roof garden was constructed with wood, powder coated steel, and stone, creating this beautiful paradise of a room. They made room for grilling, relaxing, and dining in all one place. Don’t forget of course, the pretty blue planters that stands out in the sea warm, neutral colors.

Tribeca Loft

Andrew Franz Architect PLLC
Looking for small rooftop garden ideas? Take a look at this one! Even with the small space, they managed to plant a bunch of evergreens in planters and even have grass cover some part of the ground. They have a little lounging seats in the middle of it all!

Hudson Street Mixed Use Development

Andrew Franz Architect PLLC
This rooftop garden seem to have some levels, with a higher rooftop garden where the evergreens are abundant. Take notice, too, the latticed windbreak they have on top.

Marlborough Street

Jean Brooks Landscapes
With a large open space like this, the landscapers took advantage of it by having sections in the space. There’s a space for dining, and another simply for lounging. They have painted containers and boxwood hedges for the plants.

Reader’s Retreat

Jean Brooks Landscapes
The landscapers of this project created a rather whimsical space to match the personalities and hobbies of the couple who owned the place. This is evident in the painted containers and the design of the entry passageway.

Urban Rooftop

Jean Brooks Landscapes
This rooftop garden has a full kitchen complete with a kitchen garden where they plant herbs and veggies which they could immediately use for culinary purposes.

Skyline Vista

Chicago Specialty Gardens
This is one of those rooftop garden ideas that you’re certain that the overall structural support of the building can handle this type of design. You can tell so by the furniture and the firebox. On the other hand, they installed aluminum containers for the native plants.

A Fruitful Roof Deck

Chicago Specialty Gardens
Here’s one of the rooftop garden ideas that seem to really capitalize on its gardening aspect. This roof deck literally grows a bountiful of fruits and vegetables! Not only that they have a kitchen and a dining area where the family and guests could enjoy meals together!

Industrial Chic

Chicago Specialty Gardens
Just by its color scheme and the materials used, you can already tell the theme they have going on for this rooftop garden. The highlight of which is the powder-coated metal pergola frame that allows light in but keeps rain and excessive sun out.

The Urban Experience

Chicago Specialty Gardens
With the wooden shade pergola, built-in lounge, wood decking mixed with a banded tile, and faux lawn deck design, the landscapers emulate the urban living. This is completed too with planters of trees, shrubs, and perennials.

Garden in a City

Chicago Specialty Gardens
The raised box planters with trees and shrubs are spread out all over in an organized and pretty manner while lounging and dining are provided in different parts of the garden.

Custom Deck

All Decked Out NYC
Of the rooftop garden ideas that seem to be massive, include this one! Where there is lounging or dining, the ground is covered in wooden decking. While the clear walk path is outlined by a variety of plants.

Tank

Lynn Gaffney Architect
The curved windbreak is automatically the most eye-catching thing of this rooftop garden. It triples its function as fencing, overhead shelter, and trellis for the plant climbers.

Tropical Rooftop Garden

Outside Space NYC
The customized raised planter boxes extends and doubles as benches for a perfect view to the city. Don’t fret too because there’s a pergola overhead to protect you from excessive sunlight.

Lush Rooftop on Atlantic

Outside Space NYC
With only one side having a windbreak, it’s curious if that’s where the strong wind usually blows from. If that’s the case that’s a really clever way of associating windbreak into your rooftop garden.

Greenpoint Roof Terrace

Outside Space NYC
The pretty wooden planter boxes is a cool contrast to the steel chairs and tables.

Borough Park Rooftop & Pool

Little Miracles Designs
There are many details to point out in this rooftop garden. How there are some empty spaces in the fencing, the swing hanging by the pergola, the faux lawn.

Cobble Hill Rooftop & Pergola

Little Miracles Designs
This chic rooftop is quite simplistic. With its limited space, there’s enough area allocated for small planter boxes. Then, there’s the really cool bench.

Cobble Hill Mediterranean Modern

Little Miracles Designs
At this rooftop garden, the customized wooden planters also extend as benches.

Borough Park Roof

Little Miracles Designs
If you’re brainstorming for rooftop garden ideas and it includes fire places like this, structural integrity of the entire building is important. This one’s a good touch of modernity, adding to a homey and cozy feel to this rooftop.

Brooklyn Rooftop Terrace with View

Outside Space NYC
The wooden decking, from the floor to the fencing and from the benches to the pergola, is a nice complementary choice in color and material for the greenery.

Upper West Side Rooftop

Little Miracles Designs
It’s pretty interesting that the fencing to this rooftop is painted muted blue, contrasting with the reddish-brown of the wooden decking all over the rest of the place.

3rd Avenue Brooklyn Rooftop Terrace

Outside Space NYC
The pergola to this rooftop terrace is very interesting. The design clearly complements with personality and lifestyle of the homeowners. The variety of plants around it is just enough to add into the aesthetics.

Cobble Hill Townhouse Rooftop

Little Miracles Designs
In this rooftop garden, it seems the plants are swept to the corners, the planter boxes being installed in the corners. This gives much space to walk or even dance around the garden.

Union Street

Outside Space NYC
Unique from the other rooftop garden ideas with the warm colors of the planter boxes, this rooftop garden prefers this cool blue paint on the planters.

New Union Street English Garden

Outside Space NYC
Aside from the muted blue planters, the interesting variety and colorful plants give life to this rooftop garden.

State Street View

Outside Space NYC
A pergola is situated just right to the side while the edges of this rooftop garden is filled with raised planter boxes. The plants are enough to cover one side of the pergola, hidden from possible nosy neighbors.

Jersey City Roof Garden

Little Miracles Designs
A grill, a dining area, a swing. This roof garden is perfect for hang outs. And the built-in planter boxes blends in so well with the fencing.

Park Slope Roof Garden

Amber Freda Inc.
This lush garden oasis is completed with a custom built-in pergola and an outdoor kitchen. It’s a perfect combination for a relaxing lounge.

Brooklyn Heights Rooftop Garden

Amber Freda Inc.
When it comes to rooftop garden ideas with a stylish and contemporary look, take a look at this one! The faux lawn, contemporary furnishings, and the planters totally complete the look.

West Village Roof Garden

Amber Freda Inc.
For this rooftop garden, they had a strict weight restriction of 35 pounds per square foot yet they managed to build a beautiful rooftop garden with these custom-built planters grabbing one’s attention.

Roof Deck Pergola Garden

Amber Freda Inc.
With the lightweight aluminum decking, such rooftop garden ideas like this, ensure safety without sacrificing style. The pergola and the bench are quite cozy-looking.

Midtown East Roof Garden

Amber Freda Inc.
With the way this roof garden, the combined ipe pergola and horizontal fencing makes this place look like a little secret oasis.

Contemporary Roof Garden in Harlem

Amber Freda Inc.
The rattan furniture matches well with the lightweight planters, completing a contemporary look.

Westside Rooftop

Christy Webber Landscapes
With the custom aluminum planters and screens, this rooftop garden follows through the safety code while also having it a stylish look.

Brooklyn Rooftop Garden Make-over

Amber Freda Inc.
The ipe wood deck tiles are quite interesting and perfectly matching with the custom ipe bench.

Greenpoint Roof

Amber Freda Inc.
What’s most interesting about this rooftop garden is the wood and metal hybrid pergolas. Not to mention the composite fencing with custom built-in lattices and porcelain pavers.

Night Time Ambience Park Slope

Amber Freda Inc.
The globe lights and up-lights in the plants make this rooftop garden an even more beautiful place to relax even at night.

Tribeca Roof Garden

Amber Freda Inc.
The black fiberglass planters are a nice touch that goes along with the seemingly grey and white color scheme on this rooftop garden.

Carroll Gardens Rooftop

Amber Freda Inc.
The custom-designed cedar planter boxes are not only pretty but also practical choice for an open garden rooftop like this.

West Village Rooftop Garden

Amber Freda Inc.
The custom planters match well with the custom fencing. It is one of those rooftop garden ideas where, with the warm, earthy colors, it gives a cozy and warmth feel.

West Village NYC Rooftop Terrace

Amber Freda Inc.
At this angle, this rooftop garden looks cramped. But with the huge planters and the evergreens and shrubs they house, and the chaise lounge chair, it most certainly give that impression.

Brooklyn Rooftop Garden

Amber Freda Inc.
The contrast of black and white planters, and the mix of straight lines and round shapes, makes this rooftop garden in Brooklyn look very interesting.

Wilmette

Scott Simpson Design + Build
If you want to see minimalistic rooftop garden ideas, here’s one for you! The entire ground covered with plants but one spot with a decking to lounge. Also take note of the latticed fencing.

Midtown Manhattan NYC Rooftop Garden

New Eco Landscapes
When it comes to rooftop garden ideas in the middle of the city, this rooftop garden is a perfect example. The balance of lush and vibrant shrubs and the minimal lounging furnishing is just enough to create a cozy ambience.

Cobble Hill Contemporary Rooftop

New Eco Landscapes
The cedar decking is accompanied with cedar fencing, topping off this warm and inviting rooftop garden.

Private Garden

All Decked Out NYC
With the planter boxes on the side, this gives much room in the middle for the family to lounge.

Upper East Side Classic Roof Garden

Amber Freda Inc.
Preserving the classic style of the residence, the landscapers work their way around this by bringing in black metal furniture and dark fiberstone planters, going along with the black wrought-iron fencing.

That’s it for some relaxing rooftop garden ideas that hopefully inspired you to come up with your own unique ideas!

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