Adding a Zen garden to your backyard is a great way to create a special place within your home with the sole purpose of rest and meditation. In this hectic world that we live in having a place where you can just stop for a second, let your worries go and focus on yourself is exactly what the doctor ordered. And the best thing about a Zen garden is that it isn’t as hard to create as one might think.
So let us help you make that perfect peaceful oasis in your backyard with these few useful tips.
First, you have to make a choice
Zen gardens are meant to represent nature in miniature. They are arranged according to ancient Eastern principles that have had a centuries-long revolution. So just like nature is versatile, they are different types of Zen gardens, and the work that needs to be done will depend mostly on the one that you choose. Traditional Japanese Zen gardens are usually categorized as tsukiyama (hill gardens), karesansui (dry gardens) and chaniwa gardens (tea gardens). In a more western approach, we usually see two, moss and rock Zen gardens. These two are quite different and they require different things in order to come to life.
Rock Zen Garden
This is the most common type of Zen gardens, and usually, the first one people recognize. Now in order to create a rock Zen garden in your backyard, you’ll need to consider the following. First, you need to determine in which part of your yard you want to build the garden and what is the appropriate size. Keep in mind that it is best to have it a far away from the noise as possible. Size-wise it would be a good option to mark a 10-by-16-foot rectangle and to dig it to a depth of 4 inches. Then line the Zen garden with edging stones. You can opt for rectangular rocks in order to create an enclosure. Next, it is time to plan out where you are going to put the large, weathered stones. As well as any plants, benches or statues you have selected for your Zen garden.
Finally, when you have placed an arranged everything, it is time to pour small pebbles or crushed granite into the site. You should spread the material evenly, with a hoe, around all of the elements you have placed. Then rake ripples into it. In order to create the characteristic sandy waves which are meant to symbolize the water element in traditional Zen dry landscapes. If this seems like a lot of work to you, you can always opt to have professionals like those at Manna Landscapes design the ideal Zen solution for your garden.
Moss Zen Garden
Unlike the rock Zen garden, the moss one is a lot greener and requires a bit more work. The first few steps are the same. Find the perfect location, create a border and start planning the positioning of all the elements. However, in order to truly create a moss Zen garden, you will need to dig a hole which will serve as the basis of your pond. Like waves in the rock Zen garden are used to represent water. A moss one should have an actual body of water. Before you start digging your pond you should make sure the site isn’t directly over any existing underground pipes, cables or sewer lines and septic fields. You should also have a water source, like an outside faucet, nearby in order to easily fill it.
Finally, try to provide your pond with at least a partial shade. Either using the rocks or the plants in order for it not to dry out too fast. However, avoid placing it near a tree since the foliage can make it quite the hassle for cleaning. Now that you have your pond, you just need to place the rocks and plants. Don’t forget about the moss. Moss goes great on the smaller rocks in your Zen garden. Keep in mind that for this type of Zen garden, greener is always better.
So there you have it! You are all set up to have the perfect location for rest, meditation and escape from the hustle and bustle of your everyday life.
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Guest post courtesy of Emma Joyce.
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