Plan A Japanese-Style Garden

Japanese gardens were developed under the influences of the Chinese gardens, but gradually Japanese garden designers began to develop their own aesthetics, based on Japanese materials and Japanese culture. Today, in many parts of Japan and the western part of the world the traditions of Japanese garden art still maintain their full intensity of expression and continue to inspire the many artists that aspire to create a personal Japanese garden of their own.  

Color & Texture

Japanese gardens rely on subtle differences in color and texture. Shrubs are pruned into shapes that reveal their architectural form with their arching branches reach over the contrasting groundcover. Bonsai can be created from nearly any perennial woody-stemmed tree or shrub species that produces true branches and can be cultivated to remain small through pot confinement with crown and root pruning.

Meditation Garden

Japanese rock gardens, became popular in Japan in the 14th century thanks to the work of a Buddhist monk, who built Zen gardens at the five major monasteries in Kyoto. These gardens have white sand or raked gravel in place of water, carefully arranged rocks, and sometimes rocks and sand covered with moss. Their purpose is to facilitate meditation, and they are meant to be viewed while seated on the porch of the residence.
Japanese Garden Ideas
Classical Zen gardens were created at temples of Zen Buddhism in Kyoto, Japan during the Muromachi Period. They were intended to imitate the intimate essence of nature, not its actual appearance, and to serve an aid to meditation about the true meaning of life. 

Zen Garden Elements

Japanese gardens combine the basic elements of plants, water, and rocks with simple, clean lines to create a tranquil retreat. For an Asian style garden build an intimate space with a teahouse of bamboo or wood. Characteristics that also blend in a Japanese garden Buddhist bells, stone pagoda lantern, garden bridge, bamboo, and moss-covered rocks, waterfalls, ponds, and colorful koi fish.  
Elements of a Japanese Garden

Creating A Zen Backyard

A Zen garden can be created in any backyard, no matter the size. Green plants in your Zen garden reconnect you to the earth, to growth and to life and the color green is naturally soothing. A Zen garden is not overcrowded, it strategically uses spacing between plants for harmony, balance and openness. The next important element of a Zen garden is water. Running water is ideal. It can be a steady stream or a slow trickle but running water helps drown out all other noises in life and allows you to center yourself. There are several trees, shrubs, and waterlilies that are hardy to Zone 8 that can be planted in Santa Cruz County, Arizona.  

MAPLE VARIETIES

JAPANESE MAPLES

BONSAI
KOI FISH

GARDEN BRIDGE

BAMBOO

What to Avoid When Planning a Japanese Garden

A Japanese garden should be kept simple and natural. The basic elements used are stone, plants, and water. Plants are used sparingly and carefully chosen: you don't see lush flower borders or succulents in a Japanese-style landscape. These are some rules to follow in not doing when creating your Japanese garden, paint wood features, use rainbow colors, use too many Japanese's accessories or cute accessories, use colored stones or unnatural rock forms, prune shrubs into topiaries or pines to look like Christmas trees, out-of-scale elements, and plantings arrange in even numbers
Not to do in a Japanese Garden