Step 3 – Add the gravel or a water feature – If you’re using gravel to give the illusion of water in your zen garden, lay it in a curved pattern. Keeping it simple will make this step much easier too. So try not to add too many elements to your zen garden. But remember, you’re going for simplicity and minimalism here.
Sometimes sketching your design on paper will make it easier. So, if you have boulders, a statute, planter, or bench, figure out the placement of everything. Place larger stones and feature elements – The next thing to do is figure out where all of the largest features of the garden will go.
Succulents are not traditionally used in zen garden design, but I had to improvise here.Ĭlearing the space for my small zen garden I mixed different species in my planter and in the ground. I chose to use hardy cactus and succulent plants, since the area is hot, and dry, and very sunny. Otherwise, choose ones that will work in the space and location. If you want to create a more conventional Japanese rock garden, then skip the plants. But, if the area is large enough, you can add a sitting bench, a statue, or some other focal element to aid with relaxation and meditation. But crushed stone or small pebbles are usually a better choice. If your backyard zen garden is in a protected spot, then sand might work fine. Just keep in mind that sand is lighter weight, so it can blow around in the wind, or wash away if there’s a heavy rain. You could use sand instead of gravel if you want. Gravel is used to represent water, but you could use an actual garden water feature instead. If you want to make yours more traditional, then use natural stones and boulders, rather than concrete. Keep in mind that concrete is not something you would normally find in a Japanese zen garden, so I improvised on this part. I needed a tall element in the corner of mine to cover up some ugly wires and utilities, so I built a large concrete block planter, rather than using large rocks. If you have a small area like mine, stick with using rocks and small boulders, so you don’t crowd the space. Large rocks and boulders represent land and mountains in a traditional zen design. Here’s the breakdown of what you need for building a zen garden in your backyard… Rocks Or Boulders You could also add a statue or other focal point into your design, a bench for relaxing, and plants of course. The main elements that make up a zen garden design are rocks and gravel or water. It was the perfect size for a small zen garden, and I couldn’t wait to get started. Overgrown bushes before installing my zen succulent gardenĪfter relocating the bushes to a more suitable location (don’t worry, no shrubs were hurt or destroyed for this project), it really opened up the space. But once they matured, they took over the small space, making it look weedy and overgrown. Several years ago, I planted some bushes in the future home of my zen garden. But that’s not necessary for a zen garden design. You could also incorporate a space where you can sit to meditate, or build yours next to a relaxing sitting area.
The act of raking patterns into the gravel is soothing, and aids in meditation and relaxation. As I already mentioned, gravel is traditionally added, and then raked in ways that represent flowing water. Zen gardens are meant to be used for meditation and contemplation.
But these days they can be any size – from an entire backyard, to a mini zen garden sitting on your desk. Originally Japanese rock gardens were created as large outdoor spaces. Plants are an optional part of the design, and using little or none is the key is to keeping it simple and low maintenance. Many are made using rock and gravel alone, and don’t contain any plants or water. Traditionally they are built using rocks and boulders to represent land and mountains, and gravel which is raked in patterns that create the illusion of water.
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How To Make A Zen Garden In Your BackyardĪ zen garden, also known as a Japanese rock garden, is a calming space designed to represent a mini landscape.
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