By Kerry Johnston
A tranquil Zen garden is good for both body and soul. And it doesn’t take a ton of elbow grease or time to add one to your garden. It can be done in a day or two. Here’s how…
Choose your spot
Opt for somewhere in your yard that isn’t too busy; a quiet corner will do. Create a border using pebbles, rocks or wood. Having a defined edge is important as this helps keep the sand in place. Clear the space of any existing vegetation.
‘Plant’ your rocks
Stones play a major role in any Zen garden. They’re most often light or dark grey, with a weathered appearance. The best thing to do is dig a depression for larger rocks. This will help give the illusion that the rocks have naturally sunk into the earth. Place them either on their own or together in groups of no more than three.
Include other elements
The basic components of any Zen garden are sand and stone. The overall colour scheme is meant to be muted. You can, however, incorporate other elements such a bridge, a pathway of stepping stones, and lanterns made of wood or stone (not metal). Just remember that every aspect of a Zen garden should have meaning and that the overall effect should be one of harmony. Too many elements will detract from the serenity of the space. Flowers are not common in Zen gardens. Rather include pruned evergreen shrubs if you want to add some plant life.
Let the sand flow
Fine sand can be difficult to maintain, especially in windy and rainy weather. Crushed granite, gravel or small pebbles are better choices. Use darker sand or gravel in a very sunny area so it won’t create too much glare. Rake the sand into wavy lines or ripples around your other elements. It needn’t be too deep, but the other elements need to appear ‘submerged’ in it.
TLC is part of the deal
Your Zen garden will require regular care. This is the fun part, as you can keep changing the pattern or layout. Just keep thinking clean, flowing lines and balanced elements and you can’t go wrong.
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