Urban Domestic Gardens: Characteristics and Contributions to Urban Green Sustainability

Abstract

Domestic gardens (e.g., home, allotment) are important features of the urban green infrastructure (GI) and represent significant component of the urban landscape. The present work aimed to evaluate the overall role and benefits of urban allotments and home gardens for the urban GI in the Global North countries. A literature review was performed to identify published evidence from 2000 onwards on the impact of domestic gardens for GI sustainability within developed countries. A narrative synthesis was used to interpret available research pertaining to urban domestic gardens per se, to define their unique role in GI and to highlight areas in need of further research. The review suggested key differences in both nature and management of urban domestic gardens with major implications for their contribution to GI sustainability. We also acknowledged the heterogeneous social, cultural, ecological, and economic contexts underlying the impact of urban domestic gardens for GI. Further, urban domestic gardens also act as a source of food security and provide additional ecosystem services. The review concluded that home and allotment gardens are important contributors to urban GI sustainability and should be incorporated within the planning, design and management of urban infrastructures.