A traditional Japanese garden offers many touches modern landscapers find still resonate with contemporary lifestyles. Learn about the common elements of Japanese landscape design and how to successfully introduce them into your garden. Some of the architectural elements commonly used in Japanese gardens are rock, sand, water, moss, bamboo and simple sculptures.
Traditional Japanese gardens come in many forms, but they are all devoted to creating an artistic scene with natural elements. The garden is viewed as an interpretation of that which is found in nature. Generally, Japanese design elicits feelings of serenity and calm in visitors. The simplicity of the designs often is deceptive as the aesthetic principles of Japanese gardens can be difficult to achieve.
There are some general rules to follow when implementing a Japanese-style design:
- Different design elements should flow seamlessly into one another. There should be no jarring visual transitions
- Designs should be clean and uncluttered.
- Plants are used sparingly and purposely
- Explore combinations of colors and textures, for visual richness
- Empty space is as important as the elements you add to the design
A good way to get an introduction to any design style is to locate an appealing image, and recreate the design as part of your own landscape.
Zen gardens
One type of Japanese garden is commonly called the Zen garden or the Zen rock garden. These landscapes are constructed primarily of rock, stone, and sand or gravel. The stones or rocks are carefully positioned amid fields of sand. The sand is carefully raked into patterns, which may include smooth sections or regular waves.
To incorporate the sensibility of a Zen garden into a landscape, consider covering a small area with small, neatly raked gravel or pebbles, traversed by a path of attractive stepping stones. The stones should have soft, well-worn surfaces with natural appearances as opposed to sharply cut or manufactured stones. Small river pebbles or sand represent flowing water surrounding the “island” or “mountain” stones.
An alternate way to introduce a rock garden into a modern landscape is to identify a separate portion of the yard, such as a courtyard, in which to landscape exclusively with rock elements. Fill the area with sand or tiny pebbles, then place attractive groupings of large landscape rock in the area. A classic Japanese grouping is that of a large rock, a medium-large rock and a small rock, symbolizing a father, mother and child. The rocks should be smooth, without jagged or cut surfaces. Raking the sand into sweeping, symmetrical curves will add precision and purpose to the design.
Water gardens
Water is a popular element in Japanese landscape design. The soothing nature of water adds to the contemplative and peaceful feel of a Japanese garden. Water may be quietly flowing or still in a Japanese-style landscape, but never chaotic or loudly bubbling.
Rock at the edge of a water element should be smooth and carefully chosen for flowing shapes. Often, water surrounds an island element, a symbol of long-lasting good health. A waterfall is considered a symbol of constant change.
Adding a water element is one of the easiest ways to incorporate Japanese design into an existing landscape. Even a small water feature in a stone or bamboo container, readily available at most home improvement stores, will add a sense of calm and coolness to any landscape.
Plants
While Japanese gardens traditionally use only a few plants, the selection of them is critical. The plants in a Japanese garden need to represent a blend of textures and colors; they are never let to grow wildly, but are carefully pruned and tended in a mastery of nature.
Some plants commonly used in Japanese garden design are: bamboo, moss, grass, cedars, tea plants and ficus. Bonsai are Japanese dwarf trees and plants, carefully pruned to retain their precise shapes. Flowering trees like wisteria, camellia and cherry are elegant landscape additions, as well.
Moss is often used to create a path, representing water in Japanese design. Tall grasses or bamboo can be used to create borders.
For gardens with water elements, aquatic plants may be used; water lilies are a traditional and beautiful choice.
Statues and other architectural elements
Placing small statues with a Japanese motif is another way to lend design flair to a landscape. Available at specialty nurseries and mail order houses, Japanese bridges, stone lanterns and statues can add a suitable touch. For statues, consider the traditional lion-dog or a beautiful bird such as a crane. As with most Japanese design, however, less is more; a single architectural element may be all that is necessary to complete a look. A clutter of statues will detract from the meditative qualities desired in a Japanese garden. For a larger yard, consider a gazebo shaped like a traditional Japanese tea house. Another large structure commonly used is a torii, an entrance which symbolizes a shrine is inside.
The keys to creating a Japanese feel in your modern landscape are careful planning, simplicity of design and a few well-chosen architectural elements. A wooden Japanese bridge can turn a tiny stream from a drab water element into a serene getaway location. A river rock path, with carefully placed smooth stepping stones leading to a small stone lantern statue can give a yard the relaxing feel of a meditation garden.
