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First step to starting your Japanese garden landscape

December 16, 2012 By Jim 2 Comments

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With the New Year almost upon us, most are reflecting upon changes that they want to make in their lives.  This might be to lose weight, start exercising, get a new job, etc.  Maybe, this is the year for starting a Japanese garden landscape in your yard. Perhaps you have visited a public Japanese garden.  Perhaps you have just seen pictures that have inspired you.

Japanese garden landscape detailed
photo credit: overseastom via photopin cc

Whatever the reason you have for wanting that feel in your garden, the first step is to plan to what extent you want to go. This depends on what your current garden looks like now and what your budget of time and money is. The following are four levels to consider when starting a Japanese garden landscape.

Starting a Japanese garden landscape from a clear site

If you are building a new home or have a house without a mature landscape, you can do as much as you like to achieve an authentic Japanese garden.  You can go as far as your ambition, time and budget can stretch.  You could put in ponds, stream, and waterfalls.

Japanese garden landscape pond view from deck
photo credit: Kyotowa via photopin cc

You might put in large stones and rock groupings.  You may add structures such as a tea house, gazebo, or an arbor.  You should put in appropriate plants that reflect the calming effect of nature.  This type of endeavor requires careful planning and execution to be most successful.  Guidance and assistance from a professional is recommended, even if you decide to do most of the work yourself.

Changing an existing landscape

With a mature landscape, you may have more work to do to change over to a strong Japanese theme.  You will have to remove some plants, replace others, and add new ones.  You will also have to remove, modify, and add features such as paths, gates, or fences to adapt them to the new style.

Is your lot wooded or backs to a stream?  If so, it is possible that you will have less work to do, but for most people it will be more than if you are starting from scratch.

Adding a partial Japanese garden landscape

If you like what you have but want a Japanese garden landscape too, you can landscape an entry, a corner, or perhaps a side yard.  An area near a main window that is seen year around is ideal.  This type of partial Japanese garden can be a relatively simple project.

Japanese garden landscape simple feature
Simple Japanese garden landscape basin

It could be installing a water basin with a few plants such as a Japanese maple, some junipers, and a Rhododendron.  You may also need to install a hedge or fence to separate the smaller Japanese garden from the rest of your yard depending upon its location.

Giving any garden a Japanese feel

This can be the addition of subtle stone lanterns or rockwork throughout the garden.  You could also utilizing subtle Japanese style pruning techniques such as pruning a tree or shrubs to display its basic structure.  How about rearranging the plants in your garden to create a more natural scene that showcases seasonal changes?

Japanese garden landscape feel
Turf is a common ground cover in Japanese gardens.

This usually would be done by removing or moving the plants you already have that seem out of place or are unnatural looking.  You could also add plants that do fit in and appear in your garden as they would in nature.  An example could be removing plants that would normally grow in a “meadow” setting, such as ornamental grasses, from a “woodland” garden setting.

If you would like help clarifying your goals and plans or actually beginning your garden renovation however large or small it is, and would like my assistance, you can contact me.

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Filed Under: Design, Japanese garden landscaping, Restorative Environment Tagged With: design, Japanese garden landscaping

Comments

  1. edwardmaccone says

    September 29, 2013 at 7:32 am

    I am looking for plans to make a small japanese garden, where in it shows what goes where and footage from one item to the next, etc.,etc.
    Thank you also if you have bldg palns for a pagoda either 5 or 6ft tall. Ed Maccone

    Reply
    • Jim says

      September 29, 2013 at 8:14 am

      I think finding a landscape plan that exactly fits your site won’t yield the results you want. You will be better off adapting one to your site or creating one yourself. Stay tuned to my site as I will be putting material out there to help you with this. If you are looking for something available right now, you may want to try this book. It’s not great book but does have some small garden designs and useful building techniques.

      I don’t have any pagoda building plans available right now. I will put info out like this as I find or develop it.

      Reply

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