How to Grow Zen Gardens Faster

The Japanese name for Zen gardens is karesansui, which translates to dry gardening. Karesansui gardens are abstracts landscape creations influenced by Zen Buddhism, representing miniature landscapes, also known as mind-scapes.

Zen gardening is reflective of simplicity of design, a design style that can be used in many gardening situations to create a tranquil sanctuary. In Zen gardens, symbolic representations of natural landscapes are created using stone arrangements, sand, driftwood, moss and carefully pruned shrubs and trees. Growth is encouraged by the attentive gardener.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

Design your Zen garden to maximize plant growth. Choose a sunny, open location where trees and shrubs can mature without interference from buildings or overhead wires or obstructions. Japanese-style Zen gardens can be found at private homes, in commercial landscapes and at historical or cultural landmarks such as Buddhist temples, Shinto shrines and meditation centers. Water features such as ponds, streams or fountains are not used in Zen gardens. Water bodies (lakes, ponds, oceans) and movement are symbolized by carefully raked designs in sand or gravel. Use garden rakes, hoes or trowels to create patterns that engage the visitor and reflect a calming element.

Establish a regular schedule of monitoring of the overall health of your Zen garden trees and shrubs. Fertilizing is not always beneficial for plant health. Do not try to force the growth rate of your trees and shrubs. Plants use carbon dioxide, water and energy from the sun to produce their own food. Fertilizer should be used only if it provides elements lacking in the soil. A moderate rate of growth and deep green color are desired for most woody plants. Excessive vegetation, evident by lush green leaves and long shoots, may be undesirable. Plants exhibiting these characteristics are susceptible to wind damage and injury and breakage during wind and ice storms.

Provide adequate moisture for the types of plants located in the garden. Sand, rock chips or gravel, used to landscape the garden, may hold heat and dry out underlying soil. Plants and shrubs cannot grow and mature to their full potential if moisture requirements are not met. The majority of outdoor landscape plants require a minimum of 1 inch of water per week.

Inspect the plants in your Zen garden on a regular basis. Plants cannot grow well if infected with insects, mold or fungus. If your plants show a persistent problem, take a sample of the vegetation to your local county extension agent for analysis and recommendations for treatment.

Relax and enjoy the serenity of your Zen garden. In Zen gardening, less is more.

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Strategy for a Zen Garden
How to Make a Japanese Garden Deck

Strategy for a Zen Garden

If your everyday life makes you feel stressed and you need a way to relax, try meditating with a Zen garden. A Zen garden embodies peace, tranquility and contemplative thought. Zen gardens, also called rock gardens, are generally made with very simple components, such as sand and small rocks. Drag a rake across the sand to experience the calming effects of the garden.

Tray

Select a tray for your Zen garden. Determine the tray size based on how large your home, porch or yard is. Small trays work just as well as large ones, and you can store small trays indoors under your desk or in the closet. Choose a shallow tray for easy access to the sand inside. Plastic cat litter boxes are an inexpensive choice for a Zen garden tray. Aluminum baking pans work well, too. If desired, it is also possible to construct the tray yourself using plywood or almost any other wood type.

Sand

Use clean, white sand to fill the tray almost to the top. Craft sand is usually available at large hobby stores, or you may find it at a garden center. Beach sand is also ideal, and using it costs you nothing. Once you fill the tray with sand, smooth out the sand to make a completely flat surface.


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Rocks

Pick out two to five rocks for the Zen garden. Choose rocks that you like to look at and that are the proper size for the tray. Small, polished pebbles or sparkling gemstones are equally ideal. The stones should be attractive to you and should help you relax when you look at them. Look for stones outdoors, in parks, in forests or on the beach. If necessary, you can buy rocks at craft or garden stores.
   

Using the Zen Garden

Select a small rake for the Zen garden, such as a fork, comb or trowel. If you do not have an acceptable rake, just running your fingers through the sand is often very relaxing. To use the Zen garden, trail the rake through the sand slowly. Make long, straight lines or small circles. As you rake, forget your worries and let yourself relax. When you finish using the Zen garden, smooth the sand out and leave the rake in the tray so it is ready for its next use.

Related Post:How to Grow Zen Gardens Faster
How to Grow Zen Gardens Faster