Also known as “Zen Gardens” – this is a timeless garden style that can provide peace and tranquillity from a busy, modern lifestyle and help to connect you with nature.
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Whatever size or shape your garden is, you can introduce elements of this style and create somewhere to escape to by following this guide.
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A Japanese style garden is perfect for a small space. The three essential elements of this type of garden are stone, water and plants.
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Design and Landscape
Use basic elements; stone, plants and water.
- Hard landscaping should include gravel, rocks and stepping stones
- Symmetrical design
- Ponds & water features
- Natural timbers such as bamboo for screening
- Detailed, thought out spaces
- Features and ornaments such as sculpture, bird baths, toro (stone lanterns), deer scarer (Shishi-odoshi) and if you are feeling ambitions, a painted bridge!
- Keep planting sparse and low maintenance
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Which plants to use?
Use different shades of lush green planting with the emphasis on foliage rather than flowers.
- Bamboo
- Bonsai
- Acers (Japanese Maple)
- Spring Flowering Trees
- Multistem Trees
- Shrubs
- Conifers
- Perennials
- Ferns
- Climbers
- Ornamental grasses such as Hakonechloa ‘All Gold’
- Cloud Topiary
- Fatsia japonica
- Nandina domestica
- Rhododendron
- Camellia japonica
- Ornamental Cherries
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Things to avoid:
- Painting wood features, leave wood bare (with the exception of any bridges)
- Don’t use too many colours – think foliage rather than flowers (unless of course its Cherry blossom)
- Less is more – use sculpture sparingly
- Don’t over prune pines – Japanese landscaping prefers irregular forms
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