So you’ve purchased all of your supplies, and you’re ready to learn how to make a Zen garden? That’s great. Let’s go!
You can easily construct your meditation garden in just a few simple steps.
Clear the space
This one goes without saying, but let’s say it. In order to attain a minimalistic Zen space, it’s good to start with an empty location. Strip your chosen spot down to its barest bones.
Clear any unwanted vegetation and rake the soil so that it’s flat and level. Now would also be an excellent time to add any edging to keep the weeds from creeping back in.
You may also want to lay a plastic layer along the ground to decrease the chance that those pesky little dandelions will come back to haunt you.
Add large stones and feature elements
Decide where you’re going to place everything in your garden. Remember, you are going for simplicity and minimalism.
It helps to sketch out your plants before installing each piece. Start with the most prominent pieces and work your other elements in around them.
Add the gravel or water feature
If your water feature is a pond, you may want to start with that. If it’s a fountain, now would be a good time to work it into your design.
For a more traditional approach, use gravel or small pebbles to give the illusion of water. Be sure to rake the gravel into swirly patterns, not straight lines.
Spruce it up with plants
Plants aren’t necessary aspects in a zen garden. Again, it depends on how traditional you want to be. However, if you’d like to add some, go right ahead!
You can either plant them into the ground or just add a few potted plants around the garden. Potted succulents work really well in Zen gardens.
How to Make a Zen Garden Really Pop
Now that you know the basics of how to make a Zen garden let’s talk about accent pieces. There are many ways that you can make your Zen garden truly yours.
There are no real rules. You can stick to a traditional minimalist approach, or you can add in spices of your personality. We’ve got a few ideas for how to add a little pizazz to your space.
Add a splash of color
If rocks and gravel are too minimalist for you, choose plants, shrubs, and flowers to add a touch of color. You can maintain a simplistic scheme by staying within one color palette. Use color theory to help choose cool, relaxing colors.
Japanese cherry blossoms are the perfect addition to your garden to maintain a traditional feel while adding some color.
Incorporate some bamboo
Bamboo is one option that will definitely give you the feeling of being in Japan. Add a bamboo water feature or bamboo fencing around your garden.
Install low lighting
To enjoy your Zen garden into dusk or the evening, install strategically-placed low lighting around your garden. Lighted paths will help you find your way after a lengthy meditation. Though you should take care not to put any distracting lights in line with your meditation focal points.
How to Make a Zen Garden for Your Desk
If you’re interested in having a Zen garden, but you don’t have a yard. You should consider a miniature Zen garden. An indoor Zen garden starting kit is a great place to start. Zen-garden kits come with a mini wooden rake, a small bag of sand, a wooden tray, and an assortment of rocks.
You can customize your kit with feature pieces or place it next to an incense burner to help set the meditative mood. You can even use jewelry to help decorate your tabletop zen garden.
Breathe Deep and Relax
Now that you’ve learned how to make a Zen garden, it’s time to sit back, take a few deep breaths, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
As long as you keep your garden minimalistic and clutter-free, you’ll be able to achieve nirvana. Find a quiet corner and sit alone with your thoughts. You can also pick up your rake and drag it through the gravel to meditate through physical labor.
Whatever you do, remember that your Zen garden is yours. As long as you’re benefitting from it, there’s no wrong way to design your space.
Have you ever been to a Zen garden? Do you have other suggestions for how to make a Zen garden pop? Let us know in the comments below.
FAQs Answered
What materials are needed to make a Zen Garden?
Zen gardens are easy to make and maintain. All you need is a container or tray, soil, sand, stones or pebbles, water, and some plants.
What kind of plants are needed for a Zen Garden?
We have all heard of Zen Gardens, whether it's in the movies or in real life. So what is a Zen Garden? It is a space where one can find peace and tranquility to reduce mental stress. Zen gardens are made up of different materials which are natural to the environment.
A zen garden can be made up of many different plants, but there are some plants that are considered staples for these gardens. The main plant that everyone thinks of is Bamboo, which symbolizes strength and flexibility. There are several other plants that you will commonly see in a zen garden as well, such as Japanese Maple Trees, which represent longevity and patience; Ferns, which represent fertility; Jasmine or Lotus Flowers, which represent purity; or Ivy Plants, which represents friendship.
Why is it important to maintain the Zen Garden?
The Zen Garden is a place to get away and relax for a few minutes or hours. It's a place to enter into a meditative state and feel the peace of the world around you. However, if the garden is not maintained, it will quickly become overgrown and lose its balance. This can cause an individual to jump out of their peaceful state and back into reality, which isn't always pleasant.
Zen gardens are important because they provide us with an opportunity to take time for ourselves while also keeping our minds balanced and focused on what we need in life.
How can I make my own Zen Garden?
A Zen Garden is a Japanese garden that is designed to create a sense of peace and tranquility. You can create your own by following these steps:
1. Clear the area you will be using.
2. Arrange stones so they are in lines, circles, or other shapes.
3. Fill the area with plants, flowers, trees, bushes, etc.
4. Clear any debris or weeds that have grown in the area since you planted it and add more soil if necessary to fill in low spots and level out high spots if any exist
5. Keep your Zen Garden beautiful by weeding around it often and trimming overgrowth with regularity
