Make a meditative zen garden
A zen garden is an excellent way to create a meditative space in your yard. However, if you prefer low-maintenance landscaping, you might be fooled by the simple look of zen gardens. They are a lot of work to create and maintain, but the reward is worth it.
What is a zen garden?
Zen gardens are often referred to as miniature landscapes because their elements symbolise aspects of nature. It is a type of gravel garden that features tall boulders representing mountains and more rounded and flatter rocks to represent islands in the waves and ripples of gravel that represent the ocean’s waves. Gravel is used because it’s easier to work with than sand.
Furthermore, short, green plants can be grown on or around the “islands” to characterise the vegetation. If you choose to include short trees or shrubs in your design, they must be pruned carefully.
What you need to create your zen garden
- Gravel*
- Various size and shape rocks
- Steel garden rake
- Wooden zen rake
- String, string level, and stakes
- Tamper
- Weed Guard
- Edging stones
*Traditionally, zen gardens use white gravel like sandstone crush. However, since it’s used to signify the ocean, you might want to choose black crush.
Site preparation
Choose a flat area in your yard and mark out a rectangle. Remember to keep the sun requirements of the plants you may want to use in mind when selecting s spot. Next, completely clear your chosen space of plants, weeds, stones, etc.
Then, check for level by pounding stakes into the ground lengthwise and widthwise, tying a string between them, and using your string level. Rake out any uneven spots with the steel garden rake.
Follow this up by tamping down the soil and creating a stone edging to retain your gravel.
Now, dig holes for the rocks you want to use to represent mountains and islands and the plants you want to install. Then, place these elements and bury them as necessary.
Next, lay the landscape fabric over the soil. Make cuts in it to accommodate your rocks and plants.
Finally, apply some of your zen gravel and distribute it evenly across your space, adding more as you go.
You are now ready to rake ripples or swirls in the gravel with the wooden zen rake.
Best plants for a zen garden
This is not a comprehensive list but a great place to start.
- Creeping thyme
- Moss
- Corkscrew rush
- Chinese lanterns
- Creeping junipers
- Ferns
- Japanese forest grass
- Chinese junipers
- Evergreen azaleas
- Bamboo
- Miniature pines
- Crimson Queen Japanese maple
- Silk tree
- Snow Fountains weeping cherry
- Umbrella pine
Optional elements
A zen garden isn’t meant to stress you out, so be flexible in your approach and go with the flow. Depending on how elaborate you want your zen garden to be, you can add more elements.
- Screening allows you to create a secluded area. Choose from bamboo, lattice panels, etc.
- A statue like a Buddha figurine or Japanese lanterns can be placed in a prominent area to serve as inspiration for meditation.
- A pathway to lead visitors into your zen garden can be created with materials that contrast with your garden.
- A stone bench or comfortable chair allows you to rest and enjoy your zen garden.
- While water is not part of a traditional zen garden, the soothing sound of moving water can add to a meditative environment. A trickling fountain is a great addition.
- Light the pathway, your sculpture, etc., to ensure you can also spend some peaceful time outdoors in the evening.
Maintaining your zen garden
Caring for your zen garden is an integral part of the meditative process.
- Regular raking will keep patterns crisp.
- Pick out or rake fallen leaves and other loose debris from the gravel.
- Keep your zen garden weed-free.
- Prune your plants to maintain a neat look. You can create shaped topiaries and should trim creeping groundcovers. Remove dead flowers and branches.
Take a moment and appreciate your zen garden
Discover the meditative beauty of a zen garden. Get in touch with Pebbles for Africa, the leading gravel and pebble supplier in Gauteng, today to find out more about their various sized and coloured decorative gravel.
