Achieve Total Zen with a Japanese Inspired Rock Garden

Overall, our lives in the 21st century are much easier to live than our predecessors in previous generations. Having said this, life in the 21st century is also among the most stressful with millennials being the most stressed generation of them all. This time of year gets especially stressful with Christmas just around the corner and with a new year just on the horizon. In this blog, we will be talking about how you can remove your stress by creating a Zen garden. 

What Is a Japanese Rock Garden?

Japanese rock gardens have existed since the Heian period (794 – 1185). These gardens were closely linked to the Chinese gardens of the Song Dynasty, which involved groups of rocks symbolizing Mount Penglai, the home of the eight immortals in Chinese mythology. Rock gardens come from these ancient beliefs, with people placing rocks upright in dry landscapes to represent mountains. Also known as Karesansui (a zen garden which uses only rocks and gravel), they serve as a place for the gardener to practice meditation daily.

What Will I Need for My Rock Garden?

The key to success with your Japanese inspired rock garden comes down to a few basic steps you must follow. Here are some of the most important components of a Japanese zen garden you should consider:

• Sand or Gravel – The sand and gravel patterns, famous from Japanese gardens, allow the eye to rest and the mind to be calm. They are also a part of the dry landscape, meaning larger rocks can be placed to represent mountains and valleys.  
  
• Arrangements of rocks – Rocks are placed within the gardens to create a larger landscape. They can represent mountains, valleys and hills all of which are common in Japan. 
  
• Plants – A garden wouldn’t be a garden if it didn’t feature some kind of plants and Zen gardens are no different. Bamboo and Acers are both very common within Japanese gardens and you should consider them when designing your garden.
  
• Water features – Although dry landscape gardens are the type of garden most famous within Japanese culture, zen gardens can also contain water features. Bridges over streams and ponds filled with Koi or Gold fish are also a common feature. Here are our tips on making a good pond for your garden.

How Can We Help You Create Your Garden?

With over 30 years in the landscaping industry, we are more than experienced enough to work on your garden. We are experts in paving, meaning we can create the perfect path through your garden as well as create the perfect space for you to enjoy your garden and achieve the perfect levels of Zen. Check out some of our previous work. We can also dig you the perfect pond or create a water feature suited to your zen garden, although we don’t supply the fish.

Want to achieve a perfect state of calm in your own Japanese inspired rock garden? We can help, call us on 01603 360548 or email us enquiries@knightslandscaping.co.uk.

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