Have you been captivated by Asian garden art? Then design your very own Zen garden on your own. These instructions explain step by step how to make an authentic Japanese rock garden yourself.
How can I design a Zen garden myself?
To make a Zen garden yourself, create a sketch plan with gravel beds, stones, sand areas, moss and bonsai trees. Lay out the areas, plant the gravel beds, place boulders and draw lines in the sand. Moss-covered hills complete the design.
Create a plan – this is what characterizes a Zen garden
The Zen garden is considered a special form of Japanese garden. The design plan consistently avoids colorful flowers and water. Therefore, create a plan sketch that is limited to the following elements:
- Bright gravel beds and isolated stones/boulders in odd numbers
- Sand surfaces simulating water bodies
- Moss as the only permitted green plants
- Trees, exclusively in the form of bonsai
Using scale planning, you can determine the amount of gravel and sand you need. How you design the partial areas to each other is up to your personal creativity. By integrating hills planted with moss into your planning, you can skilfully lighten the appearance without abandoning the concept.
Create gravel and sand areas with authentic planting - this is how it works
Stake out the areas precisely according to your plan sketch. Where gravel and sand areas arise, dig the soil to a depth of 20 to 25 cm. Line the pits with weed film. Add gravel and sand to a level high enough that you can rake the area later without damaging the film. As a rule, only the gravel beds are planted with one to three bonsai trees. How to do it right:
- First set up each bonsai temporarily at the intended location with wide planting distances
- Take several steps back and let the placement take effect
- At the final location, clear the gravel aside and cut the foil crosswise
- Plant the potted root ball, water it and close the pit again with gravel
Finally, place boulders in the Zen garden without creating a geometric pattern. You can round off the design adequately with Asian accessories such as stone lanterns or Buddha sculptures. Then use the rake (€6.00 on Amazon) to create lines in the gravel and sand that symbolize the flow of water. What is important to note is an even, curved path that does not reveal a beginning or an end.
Make your own green hills in style – this is how you can do it with moss
If your Zen garden extends over semi-shady to shady locations, moss-covered hills will be presented here in a tasteful and concept-compliant manner. For this purpose, pour ericaceous or rhododendron soil to the desired height. Collect fresh pieces of moss in the nearby forest, place them in the ground and then sprinkle the area with a fine spray. Within a short time a dense carpet of moss forms.
Tip
The ingenious concept of the Zen garden is the ideal option for making a small front garden on a terraced house unique. The DIY instructions described here can be applied to any area size. By putting together the various components individually, you can stand out impressively from the uniform appearance of a terraced house settlement.
