5 tips to follow for success

Composition of a Japanese garden: the main principles

To compose a Japanese garden it is necessary to respect three main principles.

• Nature is reproduced on a smaller scale. It is thus idealized and represented by limiting artifices.
• A Japanese garden brings together symbolic representations. For example, we can see an isolated rock which will represent Mount Shumisen from Buddhism, a group of rocks materializing Buddha and his disciples, etc.
• Finally, the capture of several landscapes in one place thanks to the miniaturization of these. We can thus find a mountain, a river, a lake in a small space.

The keys to creating a Japanese garden

To create a Japanese garden, you don’t necessarily need a large space. These are the clean lines that will allow the gaze to circulate easily.

1. The first key to success is not to neglect the elements that will serve as your decor. You can thus arrange rocks that will be installed on gravel like islands. It is then possible, with a rake, to create undulations in the gravel for a more realistic effect.
2. The second key to a successful Japanese garden is to take special care in the composition. You must therefore proscribe straight lines in favor of curves, even for paths. Likewise, arrange the spaces on odd paces which are considered positive and therefore would bode well. Finally, also favor asymmetry, just like in nature.
3. The third key will be to opt for suitable vegetation.

The decoration of the Japanese garden

To succeed in your Japanese garden, it is necessary to give an important place to natural elements such as gravel, rocks, etc., to which you can add decorative objects. It can be developed like a table.

Lanterns

The lantern is one of the essentials of Japanese decoration. They were originally intended to light the entrance to Buddhist temples. You can choose to place them in strategic corners of your exterior. However, it is best not to install them all in the same place.

Water stones

Water stones are stones that are dug out. They thus form a kind of small basin where to wash the hands, drink or make the happiness of the birds during heat waves.

Japanese steps

The Japanese steps are flat and rather thin. They have a practical function: to guide walkers. They can be used to create a pleasant walkway. They also have an aesthetic function.

The Pelvis

The water point is one of the essentials of your Japanese exterior. If you cannot have a basin or a puddle, you can also opt for a fountain. If you opt for a pond, it can accommodate aquatic plants like water lilies, for example.

Statues

Currently, the market offers many statues or statuettes that will be a nod to Asian culture.

The rain chain

They are intended to replace the gutters present on our homes. They are just as effective, but more enjoyable. They are made up of 11 to 25 copper cups depending on the model. They are made by hand.

Pottery

You can also opt for raku pottery, for example. This firing process causes the parts to undergo a significant thermal shock, thus leaving marks on each model which are unique. This is how they tell the story of earth, fire and water.

How to compose your Japanese garden

To compose your Japanese garden well, you must organize it to the nearest millimeter. Nothing should be left to chance. Therefore, it is best to start by creating a plan. For the serenity and balance of this space, you must bet on asymmetry. Hide the edges of your garden with plants with resistant foliage. Place your walkways in the shape of curves. Opt for beds with 3, 5 or 7 plants. For a space that aspires to relaxation, also bet on the harmony of shapes, but also of colors.

Which plant and which tree in a Japanese garden?

For a Japanese garden, it’s all in the detail. You must therefore opt for suitable vegetation, which is also the third key to success. Create contrasts and play with colors with the plants in your garden. If you can bet on green by playing with the different shades, it is also possible to add touches of color thanks to the different blooms. You can also add contrast with plants with red or orange leaves. You can also bet on the graphic shapes of certain plants. There are many possibilities for a result of the most beautiful effect.

Plants

You can turn to plants whose abundant flowering will sublimate your Japanese garden such as:

• camellia;
• azalea;
• magnolia;
• rhododendron;
• Japanese spirea;
• the nandina;
• the andromeda.

You can also opt for ground cover plants such as:

• helxin;
• sagina;
• the foam ;
• ophiopogon;
• sedge.

Trees and shrubs

• Japanese maple will also offer you a beautiful palette of colors ranging from green to brilliant red.
• Pine will be appreciated for its evergreen foliage. It is also a very strong symbol in Japan where we mainly find black pine, red pine and Scots pine.
• The ilex crenata is a shrub of the holly family that tolerates pruning.
• Oak like beech and hazel evokes wild nature and will be perfectly suited to a Japanese garden.
• The Japanese cherry tree or the almond tree to enjoy their beautiful blooms.
• The willow evocative of serenity.
• The essential bamboo, taking care not to choose it tracing so as not to find yourself invaded.