Japanese Landscaping Designs Made Easy

The first thing you'll need to do if you're interested in Japanese design is to understand the theory behind it. Balance is an important ideal in this art, and plants, stone and water are meant to be blended in a natural looking way. Curves are desirable in most Japanese inspired landscaping themes, rather than lines or angles.

Balance is probably the most fundamental and most challenging part of creating a Japanese garden. It's important to capture the way the seasons change through the plants you use in your garden, without overwhelming it with foliage. Remember to keep the garden in the right scale. Boulders and trees might be right for a ten acre plot, but they'll overwhelm your back yard. If you're operating in a smaller space, you need to make sure you scale everything down. Think about what it'll look like from a distance, as well as while you're wandering through it.

Symbolism is exceedingly important in Japanese landscaping, so a stone symbolizes a mountain, and a water feature a river. The goal is to reproduce nature in a man made environment. Movement is an important factor, and can be represented by a small flow of stones, or by water. Japanese water gardens are a great source of inspiration for those with the space to incorporate them. From a large water feature to a small bamboo fountain, there are ways to add this element to nearly any garden.

When you study Japanese landscaping, you'll probably notice there are lots of different kinds of plants available. Take some time to find out which ones are available and viable for your area. Remember that they, and the garden, will look different from one season to the next. Choose a variety of different looks and textures.

Stones are just as important as plants in a Japanese garden, and each one should be chosen carefully for color, shape, and significance. Stepping stones are common, as are stones used to represent islands and mountains in a water feature.

Japanese gardens don't come in just one kind, but all of them incorporate the elements mentioned above. Look at all kinds of the Japanese landscaping designs to decide if you're looking for a hill and pond garden, a garden with a lot of flat open space, or a tea garden. Remember that your space will influence your decision.

Strategic placement of Japanese landscaping decorations is also important in your garden. Consider a metal lantern or a stone pagoda to personalize things, or chimes, gongs, and rain chains (these help direct water from the roof to the garden, and are more attractive than spouting, as well as sounding nicer).

There's a lot to think about if you're going to be making a Japanese garden, but if you take the time to learn as you go, you'll find your garden becomes a peaceful, serene place.