Brooklyn, with its vibrant patchwork of urban landscapes, offers both a challenge and an opportunity for enthusiastic gardeners!
Brooklyn, New York, where brownstones meet backyard dreams and rooftop gardens touch the skyline, is a buzzing borough full of gardening grit and soul. Known as "The Borough of Trees", Brooklyn may be one of New York City's five boroughs, but it stands out as a green giant among the concrete. Whether you're gardening on a stoop in Bed-Stuy, a balcony in Bushwick, or a backyard in Flatbush, the opportunity to create a leafy oasis is right outside your door.
This legendary borough lies in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b, with relatively mild winters, sultry summers, and lots of local microclimates that allow for surprisingly diverse planting possibilities. From Prospect Park's urban wilds to community gardens in Crown Heights, Brooklyn's gardening scene thrives on creativity, resilience, and a deep love for growing beauty in small places.
Embracing native varieties and low-maintenance, urban-tolerant options can transform even the in smallest of small spaces into lush, eco-friendly gardens that add value to both your home and the community!
Brooklyn's Urban Jungle: A Climate Snapshot
With winter lows typically no colder than 5°F and summers that flirt with the 90s, Brooklyn enjoys a long growing season ideal for diverse plantings. But you'll also need to navigate:
- Urban heat islands (hello, hot concrete!)
- Salty sea breezes from the Atlantic and the East River,
- Pockets of shade from tall buildings, and
- Wind tunnels between rows of brownstones.
Soil Situation: Tough But Tameable
Many Brooklyn gardens wrestle with compacted urban soil, often with low organic matter and inconsistent drainage. But don't worry! You're not alone in this battle. Brooklynites can build soil up, not down, using:
- Raised beds
- Compost (Brooklyn loves its compost bins!)
- Leaf mold and mulch
- Soil testing through local cooperative extensions like Cornell's NYC programs
Your plants' roots may be in Brooklyn, but their potential? Sky-high!
What To Look For In Garden Plants For Brooklyn
Native Perennials: Plants like Purple Coneflower (Echinacea) and Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia) thrive in Brooklyn's urban climate, attract pollinators, and require minimal maintenance.
Shade-Loving Plants: With many shaded yards from tall buildings and enclosed courtyards, shade-tolerant plants are great choices for low-light areas.
Drought-Tolerant Choices: For sunny spots and limited watering, choose plants that handle heat and dry conditions well.
Container-Friendly Options: Small-space gardeners, apartment dwellers, and container gardeners can grow a wide variety of smaller and dwarf sized plants, trees, and shrubs in pots on patios, rooftops, and balconies.
Fruit-Bearing Plants: Fig Trees, Blueberries, and Strawberries do well in Brooklyn's microclimate and offer fresh, homegrown produce. Just be sure you have ample sun for them. There are many compact and dwarf forms of fruit bushes and trees for any sized garden that incorporate the double-duty trend of edible landscaping!
Pollinator-Friendly Picks: To support bees and butterflies, plant Milkweed, Bee Balm, and Butterfly Bush to bring life to your garden and support city-locked pollinators.
The Right Plants For Brooklyn Gardens
Go Native
Support local ecosystems and enjoy hassle-free gardening by incorporating plants native to the Northeastern US, such as the Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis). These plants act as seasoned locals, naturally thriving while attracting delightful pollinators like bees and butterflies. They seamlessly integrate into your garden, offering vibrant beauty with minimal fuss.
Bring your garden to life with Brooklyn-tough, pollinator-loving blooms like:
- Purple Coneflower (Echinacea)
- Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
- New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
- Wild Columbine (Aquilegia canadensis)
- Goldenrod (Solidago spp.)
Maximizing Small Urban Spaces
Maximize your space with innovative solutions like vertical gardening. Consider Climbing Hydrangea and Proven Winners® Scentsation Honeysuckle Vine for lush, upward growth. For compact containers, the Vanilla Strawberry™ Hydrangea delivers bursts of color. Think of it as creating a skyscraper garden, making the most of every inch.
Container-Ready Wonders - Small pots, big impact:
- Dwarf Butterfly Bush (Buddleia Proven Winners® Lo & Behold® series)
- PowWow® Wild Berry Coneflower
- Lavender (Lavandula spp.)
- Miniature Roses
- Heuchera (Coral Bells)
Managing Sun and Shade Conditions
Navigating Brooklyn's varied light conditions is a breeze with the right plant choices. For those shady spots, Hostas and Ferns craft a beautiful undergrowth. Especially the namesake state, New York Fern (Thelypteris noveboracensis). In sunny areas, Coneflowers and Daylilies shine brightly, thriving like sunbathers basking in the warmth.
Urban shade gardens can dazzle with:
- Hosta (Hosta spp.)
- Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)
- Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
- Solomon's Seal (Polygonatum biflorum)
- Lungwort (Pulmonaria spp.)
Improving Urban Soil Quality
Urban gardening often means tackling compacted soil, but fear not. Enhance your soil with techniques like composting or building raised beds. Imagine improving your garden's foundation, better soil results in healthier, more vigorous plants.
Survive dry spells and hot sidewalks with:
- Yarrow (Achillea millefolium)
- Sedum (aka: Stonecrop)
- Russian Sage (Perovskia atriplicifolia)
- Blanket Flower (Gaillardia spp.)
- Little Bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
Trees and Shrubs For Curb Appeal
Small pollution-tolerant trees such as Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) and urban-tolerant shrubs like Bigleaf Hydrangea (H. macrophylla) can add both structure and beauty to your garden. These elements act as living sculptures, enhancing your home's aesthetic charm while serving practical purposes.
Give your brownstone or stoop an upgrade with show-stopping selections:
- Eastern Redbud (Cercis canadensis) – Early spring blooms like a pink cloud over Brooklyn.
- Bigleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) – Bold blossoms that dazzle passersby.
- Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum) – Compact, colorful, and ideal for small yards.
- Inkberry Holly (Ilex glabra) – A native evergreen that handles poor soils like a champ.
- Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) – Vibrant summer color in compact form.
Seasonal Planting for Continuous Interest
Keep your garden dynamic with seasonal planting plans tailored to Brooklyn's climate. A succession of blooms ensures your garden remains captivating year-round, like curating an evolving art exhibit that draws admiration through the seasons.
Choose long-blooming and colorful multi-season plants:
- Coneflower – Sun-lovers that bloom from late spring to frost
- Encore® Azalea 'Autumn Twist' – Reblooming Azalea with flowers in spring, summer, and fall.
- Coral Bells – Year-round colorful foliage with summer flower spikes.
- Fothergilla – Fragrant spring blooms, blue summer leaves, fiery fall color.
- Japanese Anemone – Late summer to fall blooms; thrives in partial shade.
Edible Gardening - Balcony-Style Fruit-Bearing Plants
Snackable and sustainable, just ensure you have enough sun for these fruiting options:
- Brown Turkey Fig Trees
- Strawberries
- Dwarf Berry Bushes
- Compact Apple Trees and Columnar types
- Mini Dwarf Peach Trees (e.g., Bonanza and Bonfire Peach)
- Dwarf Plum Trees ( 'Methley' or 'Sprite Cherry-Plum' Hybrid)
- Bush Cherries (e.g., 'Carmine Jewel' or 'Juliet')
- Currants (Black or Red varieties)
- Dwarf Gooseberries ( 'Pixwell' or 'Hinnonmaki Red')
Pollinator Picks for the People's Playground
Support city-dwelling butterflies, bees, and birds with:
- Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa)
- Bee Balm (Monarda didyma)
- Joe Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum)
- Serviceberry (Amelanchier canadensis)
- Buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
Overcoming Urban Gardening Challenges
Conquer urban challenges like limited space, drainage issues, and pests with smart strategies.
Employ vertical gardening, raised beds, efficient irrigation systems (like drip irrigation), and natural pest control methods (IPM) to turn city gardening obstacles into opportunities for creativity.
Water Conservation Techniques
Embrace sustainability with water-wise practices, utilizing rain barrels and drought-resistant plants. These methods save precious water while lightening your maintenance load, an investment in both your garden and environmental sustainability.
Incorporating Edible Landscaping Plants
Why not indulge in the delight of growing your own edibles? Herbs and dwarf fruit trees blend nutrition with beauty, transforming your garden into a living tapestry that provides sustenance and visual appeal.
Community Engagement and Resources
Tap into the wealth of knowledge and camaraderie available through Brooklyn's community gardens and workshops. Engaging with these resources enriches your gardening journey and helps you connect with fellow enthusiasts. Check out your local County Extension Office for additional information!
Tips & Tricks for Gardening in Brooklyn's Urban Climate
- Make the Most of Microclimates
South-facing walls radiate heat and extend your growing season! Perfect for Figs and Tomatoes. Shady courtyards? That's prime Hosta and Fern territory!
- Container & Rooftop Gardening Know-How
Use lightweight soil mixes, self-watering containers, and drip irrigation to beat rooftop heat and wind. And remember: always check building codes and weight limits!
- Soil Boosting 101
Layer compost, coconut coir, and worm castings to fluff up clay-heavy or sandy soils. Raised beds keep your root zone warm and well-drained. Container gardening and berming your soil raise plants' roots above compacted or poor-draining soil.
- Plant Smart, Not Hard
Choose native or urban-tolerant plants that laugh in the face of exhaust fumes and erratic weather.
- Start Small & Grow Local
Join a local community garden like those in Red Hook or Park Slope for hands-on wisdom and shared tools. Local Extension Offices and Master Gardeners can offer knowledgeable insights about species that are highly adapted to our urban jungle.
Wrapping It Up: Brooklyn Blooms Bold
Brooklyn is more than boroughs and brownstones, it's community gardens, rooftop jungles, and block-long rows of stoop pots brimming with blooms. Whether you're walking through Fort Greene Park or trading tomato seedlings at the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, gardening here is about resilience, creativity, and joy.
With the Sugar Maple as New York's state tree, rooting us in pride and possibility, there's no limit to what you can grow in this vibrant borough. Your Brooklyn garden isn't just greenery, it's a personal slice of nature, a homegrown legacy that thrives among sirens, sunsets, and stoop chats.
Want to turn your fire escape into a pollinator paradise or build a balcony bursting with edibles? Nature Hills is here to help!
Happy Planting!
