There is more than a touch of exoticism in a Japanese-style garden or bed. Everything is precisely planned and carefully laid out. If you like clear lines and shapes, you should think about creating a Japanese bed.
What is important when creating a Japanese bed?
To create a Japanese bed, you should primarily focus on green plants such as trees, shrubs, boxwood, bamboo and ferns. Water, stones and moss are also essential elements. Flowering plants and figures should only be used sparingly.
How big should a Japanese bed be?
In Japan, very few people can afford a large garden. This type of design is therefore very suitable for small areas. Try to incorporate all the important elements without overloading the small area. The trick here often lies in omission, otherwise the Japanese bed quickly looks kitschy.
Which plants belong in a Japanese bed?
In a Japanese garden you will mainly find trees, bushes and other green plants. Flowering plants are used very sparingly, for example cherry trees, azaleas and rhododendrons for spring or irises and peonies for summer. However, a lavish display of colors is undesirable and disrupts the harmony.
Very popular are evergreen plants such as boxwood, which is artfully cut into shape, conifers and pines. But ferns and hardy bamboo are also often planted. In autumn, colorful leaves add some color to the garden. Here you can plant maple trees, for example.
What design features should every Japanese bed be without?
In addition to the typical plants, water and stones are essential design tools. What is less known is that moss is also one of the four elements in a Japanese garden. However, it is difficult to obtain.
If you only design a single bed or a small area, you can integrate the water in the form of a small basin or replace it with gravel. In order to be able to rake the typical wave pattern into a gravel area, the layer should be at least five centimeters thick.
The most important elements of a Japanese bed:
- Plants: mainly green plants (trees, bushes, boxwood, bamboo, ferns), only a few flowering plants
- Water: as a pond, stream, waterfall or small pool
- Stones: a gravel bed can also replace a body of water
- Moss: sometimes difficult to obtain, can be replaced with star moss or Andean cushions
- Figures: use only very sparingly and sporadically
Tip
You can also bring Far Eastern flair into your garden with a small bed.
