Landscaping Ideas for Japanese Garden - How to Choose?

Ever entertained the idea of having a Japanese garden as part of your landscape? If you're going for unique and simple designs, you need to start looking over Japanese garden landscaping ideas as that's what they are known for. You'll sure be the talk of your neighborhood for the simplicity and beauty of your landscape design.

One thing you have to understand about the Japanese culture is that they highly esteem nature. And this respect for nature is reflective of their arts which includes landscaping. Thus, if you want a Japanese style landscaping, you'd have to incorporate the simple details found in nature that's overlooked most of the time.

There are some basic things to keep in mind in planning a Japanese garden landscape. Below, we discuss in details these things to guide you in your endeavor.

Garden Styles

When you talk about Japanese gardens, you have to be more specific. There are generally three types of Japanese gardens, namely: Tsukiyama, Chaniwa and Karasensui gardens. These three types of gardens reflect different styles and approach. And you would have to choose based on the style you want to incorporate in your landscape.

For example, a Tsukiyama garden would reflect nature in its beauty. With this style you'd have to use ponds, flowers, foot paths, hills and other accents like bridges to copy a natural scenery. On the other hand, a Karasensui garden is a very minimal approach since you'll be using elemental things such as gravels and boulders to represent nature in an abstract way. And a Chaniwa garden is mostly used for tea ceremony. Thus you'll have a foot path or stepping stones leading to a tea house.

Trees and Plants

Since a Japanese design is very particular in its natural elements, you have to give ample consideration into what trees and plants you're going to use to achieve a specific look for your landscape.

Some of the used plants for a Japanese landscape are maple trees which happens the favorite for most westerners because of its flaming red leaves. Other plants which you can have are bonsai, mosses and creepers. Bonsai would fit in just about any Japanese designed landscape. Mosses and creepers would make sculpture and stone steps a very natural look.

Accents and Fixtures

Most Japanese garden landscaping ideas would have a water feature as a focal point for the whole landscape. You can have a koi pond, an artificial stream or maybe even a fountain. It is believed that the simple sound of splashing or dripping water can induce relaxation and meditation. That's why it is incorporated in most Japanese garden.

Aside from a water feature, you also need to add some embellishments to the landscape. A good addition would be sculptures or an artificial mound. Other accents would include Japanese lanterns, pagodas and screens. You can find these stuff in any Japanese gardening supplier in your area.

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