If you’ve been looking for a little bit more peace and tranquility in this hectic world, consider the virtues of a backyard Japanese rock garden. The origin of a Japanese rock garden is to create spaces of meditation and reflection. These peaceful gardens come in a variety of sizes and configurations but they are designed to achieve a feeling of Zen. So, clear your mind and read on for tips to create your own Zen haven.

Symbolism

Often, this type of garden contains the element of sand. It is designed to portray a scene of mountains and rivers, yet contains no water element. The sand symbolizes the river while rocks placed strategically on the sand symbolize mountains.

The primary palette should be a monochromatic green so resist the temptation to include bright or flashy colors. Flowers are a welcome part of the garden but their colors are subordinate to the green hue and acts as the balancing color of the garden.

Simplicity is Key

Keep your design clean and elegant. Make every element serve a purpose. Use classic materials to achieve your desired result. For example, you might choose a bamboo fence to act as your garden’s perimeter and small stone pathways that wind past concrete statues or icons to represent something peaceful.

Avoid incorporating a wide variety of plants into the garden. Instead, limit it to 2 -3 mossy or crawling plants. They are not only easy to maintain clean but they keep lines simple by white lilac cleaning.

Borrow Some Ideas from Others

There are many online resources to give you ideas for your personal Japanese rock garden. There is not a shortage of examples on Pinterest to get you going. Before you begin, think about what you’d like to achieve with your garden, what matters most to you and how best to accomplish your goals with the time and budget you have at your disposal. Perhaps a little meditation is the best place to start.