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A Zen garden in spiritual green
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A Zen garden is basic and abstract. With a minimum of accessories a maximum impact is obtained. Less is more. The effect is enhanced by restraint and that is what makes the garden interesting.
Way of Life
According to the theories of Zen Buddhism, man should try and live in harmony with himself. Meditation is a way of learning to find that harmony, and a garden designed along some particular guidelines is the perfect place for it. A Zen garden is the pre-eminent place to find tranquillity and harmony with your surroundings without any distractions.
Indeed, in many ways, a Zen garden is not really about gardening. In fact, once it has been laid out, it should in principle be left alone. Just enjoy the view.
Back in time
From as early as the 5th century, the Japanese have trekked into the mountains to relax and enjoy the surroundings. At the most picturesque spots, white pebbles were laid around rocks or trees. These places became, in fact, the first Zen gardens.
By the 10th century, under the growing influence of Buddhism, the principles of Yin and Yang became increasingly important. Yin and Yang stand for the negative and positive, the male and female. These opposites should always be balanced so that we can play a crucial, constructive role in life.
No order or regularity
While European gardens are often characterised by a strict symmetry, this is totally absent in a Zen garden. Here, tranquillity is not achieved by order and repetition but by a natural approach. 'Even' numbers are never used. For example, groups of fifteen rocks might be divided into smaller groups of 3, 5 and 7. While seeming to be merely random groupings, together they do create a certain unity. Arranging rocks like this is much harder than it may seem and to be successful, has to be done in accordance with some very strict principles. Symbolism plays an important role too. Raked sand, for example, is used to represent the ocean and the absence of thought, while running water is the source of life. There are many very interesting books that you can read that will explain the background to Zen in more detail, but even without reading more on the subject you can easily create your own meditation garden in the Zen style.
Draw up a Plan
Before you start you should try and put your ideas on paper, particularly if you plan to use large boulders. You will want to know exactly where to place them, and not have to drag them around the garden later, in search of a suitable spot! Then you must begin the practical work, by covering all the areas that are going to be sand or gravel with a permeable membrane to stop any weeds from coming through. Next, put major features, such as dry riverbeds or running watercourses in place, before turning to the creation of the actual garden. Now the fun can begin: you can choose and plant the greenery. Keep in mind that most suitable plants for a Zen garden will prefer a slightly acidic soil type.
Suitable plants
Tall bamboo is an absolute must. However, always place them in a large, bottomless tub. This constrains their roots and prevents your beautifully laid out Zen garden from turning into a bamboo forest within a few years!
In a sunny corner, place a standard Azalea, or a Japanese Maple (Acer palmatum Atropurpurea) with delicate red foliage. These are superb next to a small stream!
To add a vertical element, try a Korean Fir (Abies koreana) or an ornamental cherry, like the columnar growing Japanese Cherry (Prunus serrulata Amangova) or a Prunus subhirtella Autumnalis. This is a cherry that flowers in winter and again in spring. A Magnolia is also very well suited to a garden like this.
Ferns are perfect for the more shady areas in the garden. Plant them in odd numbers for the best effect. Single Hostas can be planted in sunny as well as in shady spots and always look fantastic. In essence, allowing individual plants to show their beauty, away from the close competition of others creates the Zen garden effect.
With the planting done, the fun can begin! You can lay and texture the stones and gravel, with your artistic imagination being the only limitation, to create the sense of peace and balance that is the essence of the Zen garden.
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