The Japanese are known for their great appreciation for nature and the elements, reason why many of them have beautiful gardens in their home (For more information on Japan, read Japan - Your destination to the rising sun). These gardens are peaceful and relaxing, and chances are even if you’re not Japanese, you’d like to have one of these in your home. Making a Japanese garden can be an arduous task, but you’ll certainly reap the benefits afterwards.

Materials Needed:

• Rocks and stones
• Japanese trees, shrubs and blooms
• Water feature
• Decorations and furniture

Elements Of A Good Japanese Garden

What sets a Japanese garden apart from other types of garden is it has several important elements, every one of them having a specific meaning, and placed in the garden for a reason. These elements also express philosophies and spiritual values of the Japanese. Here are the basic ones you have to get.

• Rocks - They are said to symbolize islands, hills and mountains, but stones also stand for human emotions like strength and endurance.
• Trees and shrubs - Foliage represent forest and nature’s abundance. Choosing them depends on their hues, their blooming time and how they are seen in the year.
• Water feature - Water represents purity and serenity, appearing as a natural part of the setting.
• Bridges - For the Japanese bridges represent a journey, moving from one world into another. Pathways and stairs are also important for the garden.
• Decorations - Ornaments give architectural emphasis, but should be used sparingly; Japanese gardens should be subtle. Basins, lanterns and religious artifacts are common examples of ornaments used in the garden.

Garden Preparations

• Determine where you’re going to position the garden. If you have a large and spacious backyard, it’s all right, but if not, you need to plan and map out the area so you’ll know how much decorations and elements you can put in.
• Walk around your house and find the primary viewpoints from it. See if the garden can be viewed from a door looking out or framed by a window. You’ll want to fill the frame with a beautiful scene.
• Decide on how formal your garden will be. The more formal, the less decorations you’ll need.
• Purchase your materials. Buy enough rocks, stones and foliage for the garden. For the water installation, you can put it yourself or ask a professional to do it for you. The decorations can be purchased from a Japanese craft store.

Building The Garden

1. Position the rocks first. How and where they are placed depends on you and your space. If you want, you can have them as sculptures or stepping stones for the walkways and paths. When positioning them, place them in odd number groups (3, 5, 7, 9) and in a triangular arrangement. Bury them a bit, making them seem like they sprouted from the ground. Use at least two rocks that are the same, along with several small ones as you assemble them. “Sanson” is a classic arrangement you can try, made up of three stones.



2. Plant the shrubs, trees and flowers, making them look as if they grew among the rocks. The trick is to keep the foliage as simple as possible; Don’t overdo these or your garden will look like a regular one. Consider getting several main plants in different hues of green or in neutral colors.
   • Trees - Pines, Japanese maples, coastal redwoods and junipers are great choices.
   • Hedges - Get Japanese barberry, Japanese pittosporum and Yew.
   • Ground covering - Good examples include Baby’s teras, spurge, Japanese Arsidia and Sweet flag.
   • Flowers - Chrysanthemums, lilies and daisies are popular choices. Don’t overdo them, though.
3. Install a water feature. Which type depends on your available space. For an area with a higher level rise or a sloping section, create a waterfall effect using piped recycled water than runs over rocks into a pond. If the space is flat, just install a simple koi pond complete with koi swimming around in it. (Tips on how to build a waterfall)
4. Complete the garden with decorations. Stone lanterns and authentic Japanese furniture are a great idea. Position the lanterns, so they frame the walkways. Make sure your decorations complement the garden’s design, but does give a cluttered appearance to it.

If you want tranquility and beauty in the comfort of your own yard, make a Japanese garden. You don’t need to be Japanese to realize how pleasant this type of garden is!

Watch The Video

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