Backyard Japanese Garden
The tranquility of a backyard Japanese garden soothes many a savage beast. If done well, one of these gardens will have beauty, and reflect a balance often found in nature. These are not like English gardens or Italian gardens. There typically is not a lot of color or plant variety. Rather, the sense of serenity you get when in a Japanese garden offers an opportunity for quiet contemplation and meditation. The 4 basic components of a Japanese garden are rocks, water, a bridge (typical, but not mandatory), and shrubbery (plus other foliage) which reflect the traditional Japanese concepts.
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There’s a lot of work and expense involved in the initial construction of a Japanese garden, but once it’s done, the upkeep is minimal. As I’ve said on other pages, just keep the water circulating. Standing water in your backyard is a bad idea. Use a lot of mulch around the shrubs to give the garden a clean, well maintained look. You’ll probably get a few weeds, but much less than if you didn’t use the mulch. I believe a backyard Japanese garden is a great thing for retired people because it offers opportunities for several hobbies. You can get into bonsai plants; you can raise Koi fish; you can grow orchids; or you could simply sit and enjoy the peace and tranquility that one of these gardens can provide. If you’re seriously considering doing this, I recommend you visit Japanese Gardens for North Americans. They know this subject frontwards & backwards, and will assist with information about plants, designs, rocks and stones. They even offer a line of make-believe rocks that actually look like the real thing. They probably will answer technical questions better than I can, but if there’s something you want to discuss, regarding backyard Japanese gardens, click here.
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Depending on where you live, folks (suppliers, landscape designers, and other pros) can advise you about local plants that will work in an authentic-looking garden. I also suggest using landscape design software (usually available through a supplier) to see how your garden will look BEFORE you buy anything.