April 24, 2026, 3:21 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Those seeking a break from everyday life sometimes long for a quiet spot to relax. Private gardens are a welcome change, but they are rare in urban apartments. Instead, there’s often a different concept: a communal green space for tenants. myHOMEBOOK editor Laura Kästner has both and offers four reasons why she finds the community garden more sensible.
I know I’m very lucky–I have two gardens. One is directly adjacent to our terrace, and behind it is a community garden for all the tenants of the building. This puts me in a better position than many others. The waiting time for an allotment garden in Germany is about three years. But it doesn’t always have to be a private green space, as community gardens also have several advantages.
A Private Garden as a Sole Retreat
Renting an apartment with a private garden allows for exclusive relaxation. As long as the rental agreement is in place, residents can–unless otherwise specified in the lease–plant beds, set up a small playhouse for children, or even grill. This garden area is usually separated from neighbors’ by hedges or fences, clearly indicating ownership. While this luxury isn’t included in the living space, it often significantly increases the rent.
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What Is a Community Garden?
The term “community garden” often refers to various green spaces. It usually means a large garden area in big cities like Berlin, which is publicly accessible and jointly managed by many people or groups. Fruits and vegetables can be grown there.
At the same time, a facility shared by a house’s residents is also called a community garden. It is characterized by the fact that often all tenants of a building can plant the green space, place personal items like play equipment, or even grill.
Also interesting: Why urban community gardens are so important
4 Reasons Why I Prefer to Share My Garden
1. Fostering Social Contacts
Life in big cities is often marked by anonymity. Neighborhood contacts often take a back seat, but this sense of togetherness is strengthened by community gardens. When we moved to our apartment on the outskirts a few months ago, it was much easier for me to connect with neighbors because we share a common green space behind the house. It not only has a sandbox but also a climbing frame that all the children from the eight-unit building can use. As a mother myself, our children playing together naturally led to us parents getting to know each other.
Now, a few months later, we inform each other about upcoming vacations, and there’s even a neighborhood WhatsApp group. Community gardens are a great way to start and maintain conversations.
2. Community Gardens Can Be More Affordable
Rental agreements often specify how gardens–of any kind–must be maintained. Compared to a private garden, a community garden is often less maintenance-intensive. If the communal green space isn’t specifically intended for tenant management, the property management usually hires a gardening service to maintain it. The costs are then included in the tenants’ operating expenses.
This means you pay an annual share for the maintenance of the facility. If you take care of your private garden, the yearly costs can be higher. Gardening tools or plant seeds are often more expensive than a one-time share of community garden maintenance. However, it’s important to remember that hedge trimmers, lawnmowers, spades, watering cans, or wheelbarrows don’t need to be purchased every year. Thus, the “saving money” aspect is more relevant to the rental duration.
Since we have both a private and a community garden, we end up paying for both, so–in terms of money alone–we’re not as advantaged.
3. Relaxation Is Possible in a Community Garden
Since our community garden is maintained by a gardening service, we tenants save time and effort because no one from our household has to take on the tasks. It’s different with a private garden. Our rental agreement specifies the tasks we need to complete. There are clear guidelines on how high we should keep the hedge or what we can’t set up or plant. We all have to invest more time in maintenance, leaving less time for relaxation amid daily life. In the community garden, we have the time.
If you’re looking for a place that offers less privacy but less work and more time for relaxation, a community garden by the apartment is a good choice. If you prefer gardening on your own, enjoy solitude, and can live with property management’s guidelines, a private garden might be the better option in the end.