Weeping forms are perfect for a sloping area, or planted in a large pot so that they can cascade down. In a shady garden green foliage will show better – in sun red leaves will not only look stunning but be brighter-colored too. Put simply, the main choices are between red or green leaves and between weeping or upright habits. These have already been the subject of an earlier blog – The World of Japanese Maples – and that will tell you everything you need to know to make the perfect choice. This is the quintessential tree for an eastern garden and a wide range is available. The key thing is not to use too many plants – space is important so each plant is seen more or less alone. There are a number of traditional plants used in Japan, some are suitable for American gardens and some are not. Some inexpensive split-bamboo fencing can easily be attached to an existing wall or fence and will immediately set the right tone for a background.Įastern-themed Plants For Japanese Gardens A large Chinese pot will also set the theme or any other item with an Eastern flavor will work well too. If your budget can stretch to a stone lantern that will instantly give the perfect look, but it is not an absolute necessity. Place your rocks around the area in an interesting arrangement – look at some pictures on-line to get the idea. If they look a bit raw, spray them with some milk a few times and this will encourage mosses and lichens to grow on them. So one, two, three, five or seven stones, depending on the size of your area, is all you need. The Japanese gardeners always work in odd numbers, except for two. Nice and big and just a few is all you need. Perhaps you can find some in nearby woods and bring them home, or some garden centers and suppliers sell them. The second important element is a few nice, large rocks, natural and interesting in shape. For the rest of us, a smooth surface is fine. Finer gravels and sand can be raked into those patterns often seen in pictures, if you have the time to spend and can make a coarse rake out of a flat piece of wood with notches cut in it. This can be laid a couple of inches deep over some landscape fabric, to keep it from filling with soil and to stop weeds growing. Second choice would be gravel or very coarse sand, something around the size of a pea or a bean is usually perfect. In Japan, moss is a popular surface for the ground, but Japan has a lot of rainfall in summer and for most people in the US, dry summers make moss-gardens an unrealistic option. So what elements do you need to give your garden that Zen flavor? In fact there are a number of different styles of Japanese Gardens, but for most of us, the most instantly recognizable is one built around gravel, attractive stones and simple plantings. Just a few simple elements, stone and the right plants, can give you all that, and we can help you make the right choices to bring it all together. You don’t need a lot of materials or plants to get that air of calmness and relaxation going, where the permanence of nature will bring balance to your life and sooth your body, mind and soul. Creating such a space is actually simple and one of the easiest garden projects you can undertake. Imagine coming home from a stress-filled, busy day and stepping into a tranquil retreat of calm, green light and shade – a place where you can unwind, relax, even meditate and re-charge your inner batteries before returning to your life. Oriental themes are always popular in garden design and make excellent styles for a modern, low-maintenance approach to gardening, in larger yards, but especially if you have a small garden, courtyard or even just a deck or terrace to work with.
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