Japanese gardeners emphasize the beauty of nature. The emphasis is on keeping the garden as natural and uncluttered as possible. This means that you should focus on plants and trees that don’t compete with each other. Some common elements to consider are: Empty space, Yin-Yang, Waterfalls, and a Zen garden.
Zen garden
If you’re thinking about starting a Japanese garden, there are a few basic things that you should know. The Japanese garden is very different from a Western style garden, and its layout is based on a philosophy that emphasizes simplicity. The landscape should be clean and uncluttered, with small paths and stone structures. Creating a garden with simple shapes and lines will help you focus on the beauty of the garden.
The first concept that you should know about Japanese gardening is that it emphasizes the use of empty space. In Japanese gardens, this space is essential because it represents the concepts of in and yo, which are very important in Japanese culture. They are also known as yin and yang. These concepts are essential for the design and maintenance of a Japanese garden. The basic concepts of Japanese gardening are quite simple, but are extremely important if you’re serious about the beauty of your space.
The next element to learn about is the planting. Unlike a Western garden, Japanese gardens are characterized by their lush, natural look. The trees used are not just ordinary shrubs, but are pruned into beautiful architectural shapes. The resulting trees are known as bonsai and typically have arching branches over cushions of moss or groundcover. They represent the harmonious co-existence of nature and man.
Yin-yang
The Yin-yang principle is a fundamental concept of Japanese gardening. The idea behind it is to balance yin and yang elements within and outside a garden. Yin represents growth and yang represents decay. Traditionally, both elements are essential to a Japanese garden.
A traditional Japanese garden always includes water, either physically or symbolically. Water and stone are considered opposites in Buddhist symbolism, which is why they are a central feature of Japanese gardens. Traditional Japanese gardens typically feature an irregular-shaped pond or multiple ponds connected by a channel or waterfall.
In addition to plants, rocks are a fundamental element of Japanese gardens. They are carefully selected and placed to create a sense of ‘natural belonging.’ In fact, stone placement in Japanese gardens is often done with rigor. Because of their importance, these elements can often be viewed as the “bones” of a garden.
Empty spaces
Empty spaces in Japanese gardening are an essential element for creating a sense of tranquility in the garden. Empty spaces help the plants create a strong impact and are just as important as what is filled within them. These spaces are often created with gravel or low ground covers, which adds to the peaceful atmosphere.
The Japanese appreciate empty spaces and honor voids. The concept of “ma” (empty space) is prevalent throughout Japanese culture, from traditional painting to contemporary art. In these works, the “empty” or ‘void’ suggests that something is “hidden” or “unstated.” Empty space is a great place to meditate and reflect. Empty space is especially valuable during winter when the world around us becomes stark, a time when we can benefit from this void.
While you may not be able to create an empty space in your garden, you can create a small oasis with beautiful plants and landscapes. The beauty of a Japanese garden lies in its simplicity, but do not clutter it with too many plants and flowers. Choose evergreen plants that you can enjoy throughout the seasons. Do not overplant as this will make the garden seem too busy.
Waterfalls
Japanese gardens often feature waterfalls as the source of their water features. In some cases, these features are actual sources of water; in other cases, they are simply dry cascades that suggest water. Waterfalls can be single or multistage, and can be a symbol of both natural beauty and spirituality. In Japanese culture, waterfalls are associated with various myths and beliefs. A waterfall in a Japanese garden can invoke a sense of otherworldliness and strength.
Rocks are an important element of Japanese gardens. Vertical rocks, for instance, may represent Mount Horai, while flat rocks represent earth or sand. Gravel and sand, in turn, can symbolize a beach or a flowing river. In Buddhist belief, rocks and water represent the yin and yang of life. While rock complements soft water, it can also be worn away by water. The large flat rock of Korakuen is an example of this.
Waterfalls can be beautiful features in Japanese gardens. Some waterfalls have pagodas above them, which David Anderson often visited. The gardens are located on 12 acres near Rockford, Ill., and were started in 1979. Anderson’s father had traveled to Japan in the late 1960s, where he was inspired by the Japanese style of gardening.
Stones
Stones are of the utmost importance when building streams or waterfalls in Japanese gardens. You can’t simply use flat stones for this purpose, though; instead, the Japanese use specific kinds and frame them with plants. The shapes and textures of the stones are crucial to the aesthetics of a Japanese garden.
Stones have a symbolic meaning. In ancient Japanese mythology, stones and mountains represent the skeleton of the Earth and its blood. In the Japanese garden, the arrangement of stones should be symmetrical and harmonious, creating a visual frame to frame the other elements of the garden. This symmetry is known as sute-ishi or sute-ji.
Stones with diagonal grains and rising shoulders are known as inclining stones. Their weight shifts up and down, and they tend to be used as support pieces in triadic groups. The weight and bulk of the stone give it a sense of power.
Candled pines
Japanese gardeners use candled pines in a variety of ways. In early spring, after the tree has de-candled, apply an organic fertilizer cake to increase the health and vigor of the first candle growth. After the first flush has completed its growth cycle, do not apply another fertilizer cake until the second flush has finished hardening off in early Fall. This helps prevent the second flush from growing too large.
To care for your candled pine trees, you will need to trim them. During the winter, you will want to remove the old needles and branches from the tree. To make the new needles grow straight, use scissors to trim them. However, it is important to be careful when cutting the tree needles as you may damage the new ones.
To maintain your candled pines, you will need to cut back the primary candle before it forms its secondary candles. The timing of pruning depends on the climate and exposure, as well as on the vigor of the tree. While you should remove the primary candle, you should also remove secondary ones. This will maintain a more compact structure and longer branches.
In and yo
In and yo in Japanese gardening are two elements of a visual garden. This style of gardening relies on natural shapes and avoids harsh edges and blockiness. It incorporates evergreen plants and a tranquil water element to emphasize the life-giving power of water. This style of gardening also uses bamboo fencing, gates and arbors to separate the garden from the surrounding landscape.
There are many different types of ornaments used in Japanese gardens. One common example is the deer scarer, a bamboo pipe on a pivot that sounds an alarm when animals cross it. The tone of the deer scarer will vary depending on its size. In and yo are often used in conjunction with other elements of the Japanese garden.
Another element in Japanese gardening is the use of stones. They are an essential part of the style and are carefully chosen for their weathering and placement. Their placement is essential to achieving harmony and balance. However, this attention to detail can lead to over-emphatic picturesqueness and a buildup of minor features. Midori Falls in Kenroku-en Garden, for example, were reshaped by six different daimyo during its development.
Size of plantings
The size of plantings is an important consideration when creating a traditional Japanese garden. The size of each plant should be proportional to its surrounding area. The Japanese practice of pruning their plants regularly is one way to keep them in proportion to the surrounding space. Proper plant selection will also help you achieve a proportionate planting scheme.
The cherry blossom is arguably the queen of spring flowering trees and is an essential element in any Japanese garden. Wisteria, another perennial, is particularly suited for covering arbours and adds height to the planting scheme. It also produces sweet-pea-like flowers in spring and early summer.
Other features of Japanese gardens include a calming atmosphere and a restrained colour palette. Typically, trees and shrubs dominate the space. Japanese maple trees, for example, are renowned for their elegant growth habit, attractive palmate foliage, and fall colour. Other key plants to consider include dwarf rhododendrons, which have a distinctive oriental look. They prefer acidic soil and will bloom in early spring.
