Relaxing Japanese Garden Designs: 10 Expert Tips to Craft a Calming Retreat
Transform your outdoor space into a tranquil oasis with these Japanese garden ideas, skipping the clutter and bright colors in favor of a simplified, calmer aesthetic. These gardens tend to maintain their allure throughout the seasons and can be fitted into small urban gardens as well as larger plots.
Embrace the next big trend in gardening by adopting a Japanese approach to landscaping. Visitors at this year's RHS Chelsea Flower Show were enchanted by Kazuyuki Ishihara's "Cha No Niwa - Japanese Tea Garden," and many are now eager to replicate this captivating style at home.
To help you achieve this enchanting look, we consulted gardening experts for their advice. Below, they share a wealth of ideas on elements to incorporate, from planting options to thoughtful pruning techniques.
10 Ideas to Incorporate in Your Japanese Garden
Much like sensory gardens, Japanese gardens offer a serene retreat to unwind and reflect. With the right guidance, you can craft your very own outdoor sanctuary.
1. Focus on Foliage
Ditch the multitude of plant varieties and exercise discipline in your plant selection. Japanese gardens emphasize shape, grace, and form[5].
Choose plants with captivating foliage, and layer them to create a soothing display of verdant shades and textures. Hostas are a suitable choice, particularly larger-leaved varieties like "Sum and Substance" or Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans. They offer an architectural appearance, and their thicker leaves are less attractive to slugs[1].
Broadleaf evergreens, such as camellias, provide structure. Keep these plants trimmed to maintain their small, neat appearance. Once camellias have finished blooming, prune them promptly[2].
Evergreens play an essential role in providing structure. The compact Pieris japonica is another option, featuring delicate urn-shaped flowers in spring and vividly-colored new growth[1].
2. Dot Flowers throughout the Landscape
While flowers play a lesser role in Japanese gardens compared to Western styles, a few strategic additions can introduce dashes of color against the calming green backdrop.
Consider planting Primula sieboldii for the charming display of their single stems, standing tall amidst the mundane life. Transplant sparsely, creating a lack of structure that allows individual flowers to stand out perfectly[2].
Elegant blue irises and azaleas with their springtime blooms in dazzling shades can complement other Japanese garden elements. The semi-evergreen variety "Fumiko" (available at Crocus) features striking purple flowers[3].
3. Shape Plants through Considered Pruning
Meticulously pruned shrubs and trees are a classic addition to Japanese gardens. The technique used is known as "Niwaki" or "cloud pruning." Bonsai trees, although smaller and grown in pots, may have a similar appearance.
Scots pine trees (Pinus sylvestris) are more resistant to needle blight and can be pruned to a desirable size for a manageable project[1].
Cloud pruning can also be applied to small-leaved evergreen shrubs, making them resemble bonsai trees. For instance, Lonicera nitida (shrubby honeysuckle) is clothed in leaves and provides an attractive base for shaping[1].
4. Embrace a Sensory Appeal with Water
Water is central to Japanese garden design, symbolizing tranquility and the passage of time[3]. Include water features like ponds, streams, or waterfalls to promote a soothing ambiance.
Opt for a minimalist stone-effect fountain, a contemporary tiered bowl design, or even a small prefab pond[3].
If digging up the ground is not feasible, choose a water feature instead. Position your water feature amongst pebbles, bamboo, or low planting to blend it into the landscape[1].
5. Embrace a Dry Garden
When water features are not an option, consider creating a "dry garden," also known as Karesansui. Use small pebbles to mimic the movement of water, softened by ferns and hostas[1].
An area of two square meters with a medium-sized rock in the center is sufficient[2]. The gravel can also be raked into patterns, but this requires regular maintenance[1].
Prioritize consistency in stone color for a calmer appearance[2]. Avoid using pea shingle from a garden center[1].
6. Divide Spaces with Japanese-style Fencing
Take gaki, a traditional Japanese style of fencing, fabricated from bamboo and often black twine,can help create a sense of transition in the garden, visually aging and weathering over time[2].
Consider planting bamboo in your garden as a botanical screen if using Take gaki is not possible. The clumping varieties, such as "Red Dragon," are easier to maintain[4].
7. Plant Trees that Change with the Seasons
Low maintenance Japanese maples (acers) offer a multitude of shapes and vibrant seasonal colors[2]. The "Dissectum" types grow one to two meters tall and can create an umbrella or igloo shape[5].
Yoshino cherry blossom trees bloom from March to May in breathtaking pink and white blossoms and can reach 10 to 15 feet within a few years[1].
8. Create Meandering Paths
Paths serve as an integral part of Japanese gardens, inviting you on a journey to discover each unique element[5]. Create focal points along the way, such as benches or large rocks by water features.
Include stepping stones, bridges, or simple wooden bridges in the design[4].
9. Encourage Moss to Grow
Moss is not just undesirable in many gardens; it is embraced and encouraged in Japanese gardens[2]. You can purchase moss suitable for creating a moss lawn and plant it in a shady area of your garden. Encourage moss growth on boulders by keeping them wet and placing them in the shade[1].
10. Choose Accessories and Furniture that Complement the Look
Conventional Japanese-style lanterns make perfect closing touches, serving as focal points within the garden[2].
When it comes to outdoor furniture, opt for low, minimalist pieces in natural materials like teak[4]. Benches with clean lines subtly reference Japanese aesthetics without becoming overly thematic.
Avoid cluttering the space; every piece in a Japanese-inspired garden should have purpose[4]. Lighting plays a key role in creating a magical ambience, especially at dusk[4].
- Enhance the serenity of your home by layering plants with captivating foliage, such as "Sum and Substance" or "Hosta sieboldiana var. elegans," in your home-and-garden Japanese oasis.
- Introduce minimalist floral accents, like Primula sieboldii or blue irises, to your tranquil garden for seasonal bursts of color within the lush green landscape.
- Update your garden's aesthetics by employing "Niwaki" or "cloud pruning" techniques on plants like Scots pine trees or small-leaved evergreen shrubs for an attractive and intentional design.
- Create a water feature or dry garden (Karesansui) to capture the essence of Japanese gardening, which symbolizes tranquility and marks the passage of time.
- Elevate your garden's sensory appeal with simple and minimalist Japanese-style fencing, like bamboo or Take gaki, and encourage the growth of moss for a more authentic touch.
- Plant trees that change with the seasons, like low-maintenance Japanese maples or Yoshino cherry blossom trees, to bring a touch of nature's beauty to your outdoor sanctuary.
