As more people continue to move into cities, the urban garden has become a clever way of adding green space to any home. While some urban gardens are large enough for growing crops and herbs, other gardens simply serve as a means of bringing a little bit of nature into the urban jungle.
As people in the city are often pressed for space, these urban garden innovations help to maximize plant growth in unique and ingenious ways. For example, vertical planters have become a popular way of spreading greenery where there may be little or no surface area available. Hanging planters and stick-on window vases are other creative solutions for cultivating vegetation in tight spaces.
However, in the event that you do have more growing space available, there are several urban garden innovations that can be used to grow your own food right in the middle of the city. Smart greenhouses can help to mitigate issues of pollution and lack of sunlight, to help plants grow in what would otherwise be inhospitable conditions. There are also high-tech accessories available such as self-watering planters and app-connected gardens that will make it easy for any urban consumer to enjoy homegrown produce.
54 Examples of Urban Garden Innovations

54
Smart Modular Microfarms
These Connected Greenhouse Create Rooftop Gardens in Urban Areas

53
Eco Garden Kits
The Vive Planting Set Prepares Kids for Easily Growing Greenery in Their Backyards
52
Vertical Aeroponic Gardens
LA Urban Farms' Tower Gardens Save Water, Space and Time
51
DIY Mason Jar Gardens
This Home Herb Garden Tutorial is Practical, Eco-Conscious and Adorable
50
Mobile Metropolitan Microfarms
The Bowery Project Uses Vacant Lots to Support Urban Agriculture
49
Self-Watering Indoor Gardens
This Versatile Planter is Combined With a Hydroponics System
48
DIY Growing Books
Novel Planter Kits Allow People to Create Refreshing Vintage Home Decor
47
Rustic Wooden Crate Planters
Add a Rustic Touch to Your Indoor Plants with This Helpful Guide
46
Hydroponic Home Gardens
Earth Prime's Personal Garden Helps to Grow Inexpensive Food at Home
45
Home Farming Boxes
The Mini-Farm Grow Box Lets You Easily Grow Greens At Home
44
Compact Home Farm Kits
The Modular Chicken Coop Enables Backyard Urban Agricultural Setups
43
Homemade Plant Hangers
This Natural-Looking Decorative DIY Plant Holder is for Hanging Houseplants
42
Smart Greenhouses
The SmartGreenHouse Offers a Twist on Urban Gardening
41
Portable Herb Planters
Nomad by The Garden Apartment Encourages Sustainable Kitchen Ingredients
40
Modular Hydroponic Planters
The Citysens System Enables You Grow an Indoor Vertical Garden
39
Fruit Sprouting Utensils
Growing Avocado is Made Easy by the Floating AvoSeedo Kit
38
Sustainable Garden Beds
Vita's African Keyhole Garden Bed Conserves Water Over Time
37
Effortless Gardening Kits
GardenIn's Zero-Maintenance System Comes Out of the Box Pre-Assembled
36
DIY Urban Farming Kits
The Shroombox by Fungaea Will Help You Grow Fresh Ingredients at Home
35
Park-Inspired Workstations
Draw Your Focus Away from Work with This Fantastic Fish Tank Desk
34
Autonomous Planters
This Self-Watering Planter is Perfect for Forgetful Users
33
Disassemblable Urban Gardens
The Hochbeet Planter is Perfect for the Nomadic City Dweller
32
Stick-On Window Planters
Spoon and Tomago's Paper Planter Are Versatile and Compact
31
Observatory Vegetable Growing Kits
These Transparent Window Planters Let You Observe Germination
30
Minimalist Stone Planters
This DIY Activity Transforms Ordinary Pieces of Stone into Chic Planters
29
Self-Replenishing Home Gardens
The Electrolux Home Garden Gives Users Access to Yearly Herbs
28
Composting Vertical Gardens
The Balkonton Garden Contains a Home Compost to Feed Organic Waste
27
Futuristic In-Home Garden Systems
SproutsIO by Jennifer Broutin Farah is Easy and Eco-Friendly
26
Geometric Planter Systems
These Haskell Garden Pots Add Grandeur Elements to Your Yard
25
App-Connected Home Gardens (UPDATE)
Niwa Makes It Easy to Grow Your Own Food at Home
24
Modern Planting Pods
Herbie is an Indoor Garden Accessory for the Urban Farmer
23
On-The-Go Planter Accessories
The Happy Family Kit from EQ3 is Designed For the Urban Gardener
22
Self-Watering Urban Gardens
The Glowpear is a Self-Watering Planter That Will Brighten Any Space
21
Transparent Home Gardens
The Scholastic Root-Vue Farm Teaches Children About Slow Foods
20
Urban Grow Lights
The Bulbo LED Grow Lights Are Perfect for Urban Indoor Farming
19
Size-Adjusting Planters
The Fold Pot is a Flexible Pot Designed to Grow in Size With Your Plant
18
Pulley-Operated Apartment Planters
This Window Frame-Fitted Plant Holder Gives Urban Garden Space
17
Self-Watering Herb Kits
The Ecofarm Mini Herb Garden Self-Sustains Using a Built-In Fish Tank
16
Railing-Specific Garden Pots
Urban Gardening is Made Easy with These Special Balcony Planters
15
Multipurpose Concrete Planters
A Cement Flower Pot is Proposed for Flexible Indoor Use and Decor
14
App-Connected Home Gardens
The Niwa Smart Growing System Helps Anybody Have Green Thumbs
13
Easy-Pour Packaging
A Watering Can Fertilizer Bag Makes Tending to Your Garden a Splash
12
Sustainable Garden Supplies
The Ace Urban Garden Tool Packaging is Designed Without Harmful Toxins
11
Urban Gardening Decor
West Elm's Cityscape Planters are Stacked to Create Abstract Structures
10
Urban Farming Innovations
Jana Pijak Discusses Her Top Picks for City Gardening Solutions
9
3D-Printed Cube Planters
Cubify's Vertical Gardening Collection Features Wall-Hung Pots
8
Train Commuter Gardens
The Saradofarm Scheme Lets Train Commuters Garden On-the-Go
7
Hedgehog Home Garden Accessories
This Ceramic Animal Planter from West Elm is Eco-Friendly
6
Plug-In Planters
The 'Modern Sprout Plug-In Planter' Makes Growing Plants Effortless
5
Fruit Shrub Collections
BrazelBerries Provides Edibles Right Outside People's Homes
4
No-Fuss Flower Planters
'Drop and Grow' Adds Color to Your Garden without Digging
3
Concrete Wood Planters
La Morena by Shift Combines Materials For a Modern and Stylish Pot
2
Symbiotic Flower Pots
This Aquarium Planter Supports Fish and the Growing of Herbs Indoors
1
Produce-Sharing Communities
AmpleHarvest.org Lets Gardeners Give to Their Neighbors in Need
Related Ideas
Sunlight-Evoking Plant Systems
Yechan Choi Designs the Equinox Light to Control Indoor Lighting
Anti-Consumption Natural Ads
The 'Girls Just Wanna Grow Plants' Ad Aims to Reducing Consumption
Nest-Inspired Urban Houses
This Vietnamese Dwelling Offers Respite From the Concrete Jungle
Virtual Pet Planter Pots
The 'Planpet' Smart Plant Pot Concept Gives Greenery a Digital Profile
Natural Moss Terrariums
Petite Foret Plus Features Five Tiers for Observing Fresh Moss
Nature-Connecting Warm Apartments
Baranowitz + Kronenberg Designs the Urban Refuge Apartment
App Controlled Indoor Gardens
Plant Factory's Hydroponic Farm is Fully Automoated
Minimalist Indoor Gardening Systems
The Conceptual BalconyFarm POT Can Be Set Up Anywhere
Off-Grid Timber Tiny Homes
The 'Horta' Tiny House Has 107-Square-Feet of Living Space
Plant-Filled Latticed Buildings
Wallflower Architecture + Design Creates the Touching Eden House
Serenely Stilted Houses
This Sustainable Tiny Home is Situated On An Elevated Platform
Urban Bottle Sustainable Initiatives
Heineken Presents Fields Green With Grass, Not Glass
Kind Gardening Pop-Ups
Mrs. Meyer's Compassion Store Trades Generous Acts for Garden Essentials
Self-Watering Multifunctional Planters
Moss Develops the Grow Lamp to Simplify Gardening
Ambient Energy Harvesting Planters
This Hydroponic Planter System Encourages Interaction
Vineyard-Topped Airport Terminals
The New Plans for Florence Airport Integrate Rooftop Greenery
Small Space Hydroponic Systems
The Aerospring Pinch Hydroponic System Has a Vertical Construction
Plant-Supporting Air Purifiers
The 'FloraPur' Air Purifier Concept Cleans the Air in Several Ways
Extreme Space-Saving Architecture
A 74-Square-Foot Apartment is Redefining Urban Living
Kid-Envisioned Urban Environments
The Little Big Playmat Takes a Creative Path to Design Problems
Mini Mess-Free Garden Units
The LinnéGarden Vertical Hydroponics Garden is Self-Watering
Window-Accented Garden Homes
CAN Designs the Verdant House with a Luscious Garden
Design-Forward Countertop Herb Vases
Lettuce Grow Debuts the Counterstand and Expands Inn Costco
DIY Plant Decor Kits
The Lee Valley Make It Yourself Plant Stand Kit Encourages Creativity
Functional Illuminated Bricks
Omar Gandhi Architects Creates the OG Brick Light for Various Uses
AI-Powered Planters
LeafyPod Provides a Helping Hand with Plant Care
Cannabis Enthusiast-Friendy Retreats
ILGM x Leafly Launch a First-of-Its-Kind Home Grow Tour
Pangolin-Inspired Planting Robots
The 'Plantolin' Robot Won the Natural Robotics Contest
Advanced Indoor Farming Solutions
Just Vertical and NuLeaf Farms Address Food Insecurity
Celebrity-Fronted Gardening Campaigns
Miracle-gro Introduces the Gro Like Martha Campaign
Portable Minimal Smart Planters
A Team of Designers Create the Balconyfarm Planter
Miniature Building Block Plants
The LEGO® Icons Tiny Plants Set is a Fun Gift for Gardeners
Senior Living Innovation Hubs
The AGE-WELL Innovation Studio Highlights Age-in-Place Solutions
Sustainability-Oriented Kids Toys
Learning Resources Unveils a New Sustainable Toy Capsule
Nature-Inspired Artful Garden Installations
Zaha Hadid Architects Designs the Henderson Art Garden
Indoor Gardening Glowing Petunias
Light Bio Shines a Spotlight on the Enchanting Firefly Petunia
Office-Friendly Gardening Systems
The LOOPO Green System Infuses Greenery into Office Spaces
Marine Plastic Planter Pots
The POTR Ocean Pot Was Created with Waterhaul
Rainwater Multifunctional Planters
Junwoo Lim Designs the RAINDROP Planter and Umbrella Stand
Microbial Home Composters
Reencle Gravity Launched During CES 2024
Plant-Based Dynamic Furniture
A Group of Design Students in Sweden Created the Chia-Chair
Drinking Water Home Appliances
Sprout Presents the Atmospheric Water Generator Inspired by NASA
Recycled Packaging Planter Pots
Tetra Pak and Keter Partnered for the Cube Planters
Bio-Based Compact Housing
Woonpioniers Designs the Sustainable Sprout Ruben & Marjolein House
Integrative Garden Cafes
Cheongsudang Bakery Brings a Garden Experience in the Heart of Seoul
Urban Oasis-Reflecting Hotel Expansions
Ministry of Design Leads the Standard Singapore Designs
Stealthy Smart Garden Systems
Bird Buddy Creates the Wonder Blocks for Backyards
Solar Rainwater-Storing Roofs
Researchers in the Netherlands are Developing 'Blue-Green Roofs'
Stylish Indoor Hydroponic Planters
The Folia Origin Planter Has a Built-in Camera and More
Simplistic Tranquil Garden Studios
Atelier Janda Vanderghote Designs the T(uin)Huis Atelier
Garden-Integrated Lamp Designs
LG Electronics Presents a New Indoor Gardening Device
Crystal Floral Arrangement Kits
Cra-Z-Art's DIY Crystal Floral Kits Double as Decor for All Ages
Planted Balcony Home Designs
4site Architects Designs the House of Greens in Bangalore
Garden Oasis Renovated Homes
Sam Crawford Architects Designs the Hidden Garden House
Bright Whimsical Home Accessories
Blue Balcony Design Studio Delivers a Range of Vibrant Decor
Tech-Rich Gardening Facilities
This Soli Organic Vertical Farm is Expansive and Ultra-Advanced
Plant-Cultivating Home Furnishings
LG Introduces a New Planter That Doubles as a Lamp
Vegan Gel Nails
Re:soil's Newest Nail Innovation Uses Plant-Derived Materials
Fresh-Frozen Herb Brands
Dorot Gardens Has Unveiled a Rebrand Centered Around Its New Tagline
Subterranean Courtyard Galleries
Buzz Designs the Hermit Space Yards in Beijing Park
Hempcrete Garden Office Studios
Van Laethem Architecten Creates the New Garden Office
Urbanite Worm Compost Systems
The 'Revermi' Vermicomposter by Sam Kauranen is Easy to Use
Vaulted Glass Roofed Greenhouses
Max Núñez Arquitectos Designs the Casa de Vidrio in a Garden
Intuitive Countertop Composters
The Vego Kitchen Composter Enhances Home Gardening
Hidden Urban Oasis Cottages
Winwood McKenzie Adds an Extension to the Quarry House
Interior Plant Design Services
Plantd Life Capitalizes on the Springtime to Boost Its Offerings
Urban Waste-Made Furniture
Javier Guzmán Cervantes and Ex Soup Join on an Exhibition
Greenhouse-Topped Residences
Moe Architecten Adds a Greenhouse on Top of the Wooden House
Air-Purifying Litter Boxes
The WoofiGo Hidden Plant Litter Box Smartly Removes Smells
AI Plant Care Apps
HomeGardenAI Enhances the Health of Indoor Plants & Home Gardens
Hollow Terracotta Pillared Gardens
Formafantasma Creates the Biodiversity Island in Champagne
Upcycled Vegetable Cooking Sauces
Oddbox Fights Food Waste by Repurposing Rescued Tomatoes
Self-Watering Compact Planters
House of Thol Presents the Streamlined Patella Crecenda Planter
Sustainable Visitor Pavilions
NU Architectuur Atelier Designs the Green Arc in a Garden
Nature Blending Modern Homes
MODU Designed the Mini Tower One Residence in Brooklyn
Zero-Waste Seedling Pots
The 'Bough Pot' by Jacob Boyd Can Be Planted Directly into Soil
Plant-Based Milk Makers
The GROWUP Plant-Based Milk Maker is Convenient and Efficient
Indoor Houseplant Care Technology
SmartyPlants Debuts an Innovative Smart Sensor on Kickstarter
Timber-Framed Cottage Extensions
Pensaer Designs the Allotment Cottage in Herne Hill
Island-Based Cannabis Farms
Mailen Design Unveils a New GrowLab Organics Space on the Isle of Man
Grass-Scented Bubble Bars
Lush's Wash and Grow Encourages Reusing Bathwater for Plants
Plantable Phone Cases
The iGreen Cover Sprouts Flowers and Herbs When Planted After Use
Plant-Identification Apps
Snap a Picture of a Plant and Photo Synthesis Will Provide Details
Outdoor Floral Sculpture Installations
These Sculptures at Kew Gardens Are Made by Marc Quinn
AI Image Generators
Image Garden Creates Stunning Visuals Instantly With AI Technology
Hempcrete-Crafted Sustainable Workspaces
Commonbond Architects Designs the Gardenhide Studio
Mobile Produce Markets
GROW-on-the-GO Nourishes Communities in Food Deserts
Urban Climate Solutions
Climate Tech Cities Connects Climate Professionals with Resources & Events
Ready-to-Pick Microgreen Varieties
Bioplants Introduces Its Inouï Microgreen Range in Supermarkets
Easy Jar Sprouting Systems
The Forages Sprout Jar Kit Grows Fresh, Nutrient-Rich Sprouts in 5 Days
Beetle-Inspired Sustainable Planters
The Fog Smart Hydroponic Planter Leans on Biomimicry
Sustainable Decomposing Containers
Rootmaker's BioPot is an Eco-Friendly Vessel for Plant Growth
Digital Plant-Based Assistants
Veggify Helps Plan Vegan Meals and Discover New Plant-Based Recipes
AI-Powered Autonomous Planters
The Gardyn Device Grows Up to 30 Plants Without Any Soils
Lush Garden-Focused Melbourne Homes
Splinter Society designs the Gardener's House in Melbourne
High-Performance Garden Solutions
Relhost Presents Highly Durable Industrial and Garden Solutions
Boxy Botanical Outerwear
The Garden Jacket from Tyler McGillivary is Fun and Functional
Greenery-Filled Skyscraper Terrarium
ODA Presents a Look at the Terrarium Cheong-Dam Design
Hydroponic Herb Kits
Raes the Roots' Indoor Herb Garden Kit Inspires Household DIYs
Low-Maintenance Soil-Free Plants
Dew Plants Only Need to Be Watered Once Per Month
Urban Pet Care Products
Petbeing's New Care Collection is Formulated for City-Based Pets
Ergonomic Latticed Sofa Designs
Eva Schildt Designs the Gardener's Sofa for Design House
Urban Greening Platforms
Urban Green Helps You Adopt Plants and Make Your City More Sustainable
Growth-Stimulating Electronic Soils
This 'eSoil' Could Help Plants Achieve Faster Growth
AI-Powered Plant Care Assistants
Plantora Helps with Plant Identification and Care Using AI Tech
Three-Story Garden Residences
AtelierM Designed the Nirvana House in Pilar, Argentina
Net-Positive Energy Botanical Gardens
Olin & Overland Completes the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens
Electric Heritage-Based Apartments
Yana Molodykh Renovates the Landscape Alley Apartment
Contemporary Weatherized Homes
OOF! Architecture Designs the Acute House for a Family
Sustainable Growing Containers
The HC Companies Debuts the Revamped Horticultural Containers
Healthy Soil Cultivations
Carbon Sponge Educates Gardeners About Soil Testing and Storage
Flower-Shapes Greenhouse Gardens
Cobe Designs the Opera Park on a Copenhagen Island
Electric Garden-Nestled Cottages
NOKE Architects Designs the House of Color in Poland
Versatile Plant-Growing Incubators
Warp Core Lets You Grow Exotic Plants Anywhere
History Museum Garden Renovations
London's Natural History Museum Underwent a Five-Acre Makeover
Transformed Disused Steelwork Structures
Delugan Meissl Designs Expo Cultural Park Greenhouse
Mirrored Panel Tropical Gardens
Research Artistic Design + Architecture Designs the Frame Garden
Garden-Connecting Melbourne Homes
Splinter Society Renovates and Extends the Gardener's House
Urban Green Space Overhauls
Four of London's green spaces will receive a makeover
Retro Gabled Greenhouse Additions
BHY Arquitectos Renovates the Casa Wiz in Buenos Aires
Plant Pod-Inspired Pendant Lights
Sujeet Kakad Designs the Nature Inspired Pendant Light
Farm-Sourced Christmas Trees
Gardenuity Offers Fresh-Cut Fraser Fir Christmas Trees
Plant-Aiding Hydroponic Systems
turf is an Energy-Harvesting Conceptual Cultivation System
Indoor Plant Pest Control Solutions
Indoor Farmer Offers Safer's Sticky Stiks Insect Trap
Structural Smart Indoor Gardens
The Plantafrom Smart Indoor Garden is Sustainably Designed
Expansive Roofs Concrete Homes
Studio MOB Creates a House in the Farm in Coimbatore
Sulfur-Based Insect Sprays
Green Earth's Sustainable Dormant Spray Kit Supports Pest-Free Garden
Nature-Connecting Design Installations
OMCC and Diez Office Unveil the Vert Installation
Bamboo Screen-Wrapped Restaurants
Long Nguyen Design Creates the Nhà Tú Garden Restaurant
Garden-Sourced Botanical Gins
Revivalist Garden Gin Boasts Sustainability and Innovation
Nature-Inspired Design Objects
Students at Tecnológico de Monterrey Design the Plant-Based Series
City-Wide Food Drive Events
VGTNYC Supports City Harvest Through a Food Drive Event
Multifamily Canadian Housing Developments
MODA Unveils the GROW Project with Roof Gardens
Plant-Protecting Pest Solutions
Green Garden Vibes Debuts Plant Care Insect & Pest Protection
Convenience-Focused Salad Jars
Gardencup Has Debuted the Garden Harvest Salad for a Limited Time
Unconventional Gardening Kits
The Freaky Veg Kit Grows Purple Carrots and Dark Opal Tomatoes
Renovated Cottage Garden Extensions
John Ellway Renovates a Cottage with New Extensions
Glamorous Urban Tranquil Villas
GROWTO DESIGN Presents the Natural Villa in China
Terraced Naturally Lit Homes
Unknown Works Designs the Bright Oasis Home in London
Aggregated Plant Retail Apps
GetAnyPlant Boasts a Vast Database of Greenery for Sale