How Do I... Create a Zen Garden?
Need a little calm in your life? Give your backyard a Zen makeover and feel your stress levels subside
Georgia Madden
27 July 2018
In this practical series, we ask experts to answer your burning home and garden questions. Here, Jason Hodges, well-known landscaper from Better Homes & Gardens and Adbri Masonry brand ambassador, reveals how you can turn your backyard into a restful, Zen-inspired retreat.
Think of a Zen garden as your own personal escape. You’ve no doubt heard of staycations, where you holiday within your own city… Zen gardens take this up a notch and encourage escapism at home.
One of the biggest appeals of a Zen garden is how easy it is to care for (after all, it wouldn’t be very Zen if you had to spend hours a week maintaining it). Plants are largely potted and the garden features easy-care hard surfaces such as pavers and decorative stones. This makes it a great choice for time-poor gardeners.
And while Zen gardens are known for their minimalism, don’t mistake this for boring. A Zen garden will have lots of interesting features and contrasting textures to draw the eye.
One of the biggest appeals of a Zen garden is how easy it is to care for (after all, it wouldn’t be very Zen if you had to spend hours a week maintaining it). Plants are largely potted and the garden features easy-care hard surfaces such as pavers and decorative stones. This makes it a great choice for time-poor gardeners.
And while Zen gardens are known for their minimalism, don’t mistake this for boring. A Zen garden will have lots of interesting features and contrasting textures to draw the eye.
How hard is it to create?
Most garden shapes and sizes can be transformed into a Zen retreat. Saying that, it’s a look that particularly lends itself to smaller spaces – perfect if you’ve got a garden or courtyard the size of a postage stamp.
While flat land is easiest to work with when laying pavers or steppers, you can also create a fantastic Zen garden with subtle level changes. If you’re working with slopes, consider using retaining walls with step-downs to create different levels.
Most garden shapes and sizes can be transformed into a Zen retreat. Saying that, it’s a look that particularly lends itself to smaller spaces – perfect if you’ve got a garden or courtyard the size of a postage stamp.
While flat land is easiest to work with when laying pavers or steppers, you can also create a fantastic Zen garden with subtle level changes. If you’re working with slopes, consider using retaining walls with step-downs to create different levels.
What are the key features of a Zen garden?
- Dark pavers
- Decorative stones over weed mat
- Potted plants with different-coloured greenery
- Minimalist lines
- Contrasting textures (such as smooth pebbles contrasting with lush, textured greenery)
- zoysia
- liriope
- buxus balls
Which stones and pavers look best?
Stepping stones and pavers are key features of a Zen garden. Not only do they create a stable surface on which to rest a bench or table setting, but they provide a wonderful textural contrast to the greenery in the garden.
A solid concrete paver is a good choice. I’d suggest picking a style with a light texture; not only will it provide a slip-resistant surface for walking, but the exposed aggregate will pick up on the light tones in any pale stones used in the garden and create a cohesive look. Adbri’s Euro Stone paver is one of my favourites.
Stepping stones and pavers are key features of a Zen garden. Not only do they create a stable surface on which to rest a bench or table setting, but they provide a wonderful textural contrast to the greenery in the garden.
A solid concrete paver is a good choice. I’d suggest picking a style with a light texture; not only will it provide a slip-resistant surface for walking, but the exposed aggregate will pick up on the light tones in any pale stones used in the garden and create a cohesive look. Adbri’s Euro Stone paver is one of my favourites.
What else is good to know?
Avoid pattern repetition with this look. When laying stepping stones, go for odd numbers and different stone sizes, and lay them in curved (rather than straight) lines.
Avoid pattern repetition with this look. When laying stepping stones, go for odd numbers and different stone sizes, and lay them in curved (rather than straight) lines.
What furniture looks best?
Simplicity is key. This garden is designed to provide you with somewhere to escape and recharge, not entertain a crowd.
Aim to include a simple bench for quiet contemplation. For tables and chairs, small settings with pared-back lines work best.
Simplicity is key. This garden is designed to provide you with somewhere to escape and recharge, not entertain a crowd.
Aim to include a simple bench for quiet contemplation. For tables and chairs, small settings with pared-back lines work best.
Tell us
Would you consider a Zen garden? Tell us in the Comments section below. And don’t forget to like this story, share it and save the photos. Join the conversation.
More
Find a landscape contractor or gardener near you
Would you consider a Zen garden? Tell us in the Comments section below. And don’t forget to like this story, share it and save the photos. Join the conversation.
More
Find a landscape contractor or gardener near you
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I had 2 large Japanese maples and a Crimson maple and this was the starting point for inspiration to create my own Zen garden. It's still a work in progress but happy with what we have done so far.
I adore Zen gardens & well done the 2 posters above. I especially like pics 2,4 & 6 but OMG, NOT that one at #5. What were the designers thinking? That is NOT a Zen/Japanese garden & to me the designers have never visited Japan or taken up the principles of Japanese gardens. Very false & unattractive with so many 'jagged' edges - a big No-No in Zen/Japanese gardens. (Lived in Japan for 15 years)