Japanese Garden Landscaping and Design

At the heart of a Japanese garden is harmony with nature. More than simply a landscape of trees and flowering shrubs, a Japanese garden provides a place of serenity and rest, filled with peaceful spots that lend themselves to meditation and contemplation Japanese garden design recreates the natural landscapes in small spaces creating gorgeous reflections of the natural surroundings.

All elements of oriental garden design are interconnected blending function and aesthetic appeal in harmony and balance. Beautiful Japanese garden design ideas give great inspiration to Feng Shui homes and yard landscaping ideas, adding peaceful small spaces where you can relax and rejuvenate.

A few oriental garden design tips will help integrate the most important concepts into your backyard designs and create beautiful and tranquil outdoor living spaces to enjoy every season. The garden design should be right for the location, harmoniously integrating natural features into beautiful yard landscaping ideas in Japanese style. Your garden design starts from having nothing. Then you add Japanese garden rocks, trees, and shrubs. Uniqueness and mature beauty add charm and character to oriental garden design.

Japanese garden designs are a gorgeous combination of thick green moss, miniature trees, rocks, sand and water features, Japanese stone lanterns, and Tsukubai water fountains placed in harmony to add graceful elegance to yard landscaping. The peaceful atmosphere of an oriental garden which celebrates your personality and connects you to nature is the most important thing to achieve.

Basic oriental garden design styles

There are three basic Japanese garden design styles that differ by setting and purpose. Hill and Pond's oriental garden design style is classy and traditional. These garden designs are inspired by Chinese gardens. A pond or a space, that symbolizes a pond and is filled with raked gravel, and a hill represents mountains and lakes. Flat garden designs include open flat spaces in front of temples and places for ceremonies. This formal style represents a seashore area and is frequently used in courtyards. Tea Garden designs are functional and informal, blending an aesthetic appeal of rustic style into beautiful and elegant spaces with gates and ponds.

Elements of Japanese garden design

Rocks in Japanese garden design are the main elements. The stones placement creates balance and

The Japanese Art of Landscaping 1974

Feng Shui outdoor spaces with harmony and beauty. The basic stones are the tall upright stone, the low upright stone, the curved stone, the reclining stone, and the horizontal stone. Two almost identical stones can be set together as male and female, but the use of them in threes, fives, and sevens is more frequent. Stones can be placed as sculptures, set against a background in a two-dimensional way, or used as stepping stones or a bridge.

When used as stepping stones they should be between one and three inches above the soil, yet solid underfoot. They can be put in straight lines, offset for left foot, right foot or set in sets of twos, threes, fours, or fives. The pathway stands for the passage through life, and even particular stones by the path may have meaning. A much wider stone placed across the path tells us to put two feet here, stopping to enjoy the view. There are numerous stones for specific places that give character to unique, meaningful and mysterious Japanese garden design.

Water features play an important part in Japanese garden design. Water can be represented with a raked gravel or sand area instead of water. A rushing stream can be represented by placing flat river pebbles closely together. The flow of water, its sounds and looks, brings to mind the continual passage of time. Bridges crossing the water streams are beautiful landscaping ideas that complement philosophical Japanese garden designs. Bridges denote a journey, just as pathways do. Bridges are the symbolic pass from one world into another, a constant theme in Japanese art and garden design.

A typical gate entry to traditional Japanese garden in Kyoto

Ladies in Kimono strolling through a Japanese Garden on a Sunday afternoon

Garden Temple in Osaka, Japan

Japanese garden plants and flowers

Rocks in Japanese garden represent what remains unchanged, while trees, shrubs and perennial flowers represent the passing of seasons. A few native plants are present in Japanese gardens. Pines, cherries and bamboo are symbols of oriental garden design, but the use native plants of your locality give unique character to your garden design and yard landscaping ideas, inspired by traditional Japanese garden style. Japanese flower gardens are works of art, if done well. The key to designing your own Japanese flower gardens is to keep it simple and try to imitate nature in the layout. When dealing with Asian plants, it takes a bit of research to select the best Japanese garden plants for your own garden, but it isn’t difficult. Having a variety of plants for a Japanese garden is important. A visit to Japan (even if its just a short visit) it will never be complete without visiting the beautiful gardens of Japan. It's a true must see! For beginners that arent familiar to the world of Japanese garden designs, I would suggest to start exploring the gardens in Kyoto. To view all aspects of Japanese gardens it takes time and the wide distances between cities can be inconvenient. However, the best way for visitors to travel economically is a Japan Rail Pass. A JR pass allows visitors to save up to 60% in cost of traveling between cities and it applies to all Japan Rail Trains and Buses. For more information on traveling through Japan with JR Pass ---> please click here.

Japanese garden decorations

Stone lanterns are not important elements of Japanese garden design. Lanterns, stupas, and basins are just landscaping ideas to complement an oriental garden design and add points of visual interest to small spaces. A water fountain and an art piece can be added to an oriental garden. Framing it with stones, plants, and flowers creates a very special centerpiece that improves existing Japanese garden design. There are plenty of lanterns in different shapes and forms. Popular ones are Kanjuji which are very simple in form. Many of us like three-story lanterns for example Sanjuno-To that are available in many landscaping stores. 

Interesting Books on Bonsai can be found here:

The Complete Book of Bonsai --> I've been into bonsai for 25 years and this is the basic Bible for beginner and intermediate bonsai enthusiasts. It has an excellent section on techniques, including pruning, wiring and whatnot, and it has a large species-specific tree guide. If you're into bonsai and want only one book, this is it.

Indoor Bonsai The Great Selection --> Creating beautiful, healthy bonsai is a wonderful skill that anyone can learn, with a little time, patience, and this all-inclusive manual. With color photos and drawings to illustrate the points, it introduces all the cultivation techniques; offers expert advice on location, soil types, watering, and pest control; and provides intricate instruction on training the bonsai--including pruning, wiring, and stretching it.

The Secret Techniques of Bonsai --> In The Secret Techniques of Bonsai, the author of the groundbreaking Bonsai With American Trees teams up with his son to offer not only the basics for creating perfect bonsai but also secret techniques they’ve developed over years of careful work and observation.

Bonsai Survival Manual --> Problem solving when your Bonsai gets sick. Expand your gardening repertoire as you create a captivating and exquisite miniature world. In this introductory guide, Colin Lewis covers everything you need to know to design, grow, and successfully maintain attractive bonsai.

Bonsai and the art of Penjing --> Bonsai & Penjing, Ambassadors of Beauty and Peace describe how Chinese penjing and North American bonsai were later added to the Museum, making its collection the most comprehensive in the world. Stories of individual trees and forest plantings are featured, as are the roles played by the skilled and talented creators of these living art forms people such as John Naka, Saburo Kato, Yuji Yoshimura, Harry Hirao, and Dr. Yee-Sun Wu.

Bonsai with Japanese Maples --> With their delicate foliage, seasonal color changes, and intricate pattern of branching, Japanese maples are among the most popular and suitable plants for bonsai design. In this long-awaited book, internationally renowned expert Peter Adams discusses both the specific horticultural needs of Japanese maples as bonsai subjects and illustrates proven techniques for creating and maintaining beautiful specimens.

The Modern Bonsai Practice --> The most current, useful information on growing Bonsai. A fresh, practical, definitive, comprehensive reference guide to the finest art of horticulture: growing miniature trees. Common sense bonsai answers separating myth from fact with depth and detail. Appropriate for both bonsai hobbyists and experienced practitioners.

Traditional Koi Fish Pond during Winter in Nagano Prefecture

Suizen-ji Jōju-en (水前寺成趣園) is a beautiful garden located in Kumamoto, Japan

Nishimuraya Honkan is a seventh-generation ryokan boasting private gardens

More Bonsai articles can be found here:

Please click here for more information on --> Chinese Penjing Bonsai

Please click here for more information on --> The Origins of Bonsai

Please click here for more information on --> The Art of Saikei Bonsai

Please click here for more information on --> Japanese Tanuki Bonsai

Please click here for more information on --> How to Water a Bonsai

Please click here for more information on --> Bonsai Healing Methods

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The World of Japanese Maples

• Coonara Pygmy

  In spring, this dwarf Japanese maple unveils its pink-tinged leaves. The pink tinge fades in summer, but then in fall the Japanese maple leaves turns a brilliant shade of orange-red. Because of its small size, this maple is well-suited to containers.

  Name: Acer palmatum 'Coonara Pygmy'

  Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil

  Size: 8 feet tall and wide

  Zones: 6-8

  Choose It Because: You need a Japanese maple for a container or for a small space.

  • Find more tips for growing Japanese maple trees.
• Green Cascade

  This fullmoon Japanese maple offers lustrous, finely cut green foliage and a delicate weeping habit. If not staked, it forms a flowing mound of foliage. In fall, the Japanese maple leaves turn shades of red and orange.

  Name: Acer japonicum 'Green Cascade'

  Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil

  Size: Groundcover to 10 feet or more

  Zones: 5-7

  Choose It Because: You need a good weeping variety.

• Autumn Moon

  Like the golden fullmoon Japanese maple, this Japanese maple features golden leaves. But on this variety, the leaves bear decidedly pink tones. In fall, these Japanese maple leaves put on a show in shades of red, orange, and yellow.

  Name: Acer shirasawanum 'Autumn Moon'

  Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil

  Size: 25 feet tall and wide

  Zones:5-7

  Choose It Because: You need a Japanese maple with golden leaves.
• Hogyoku

  A great time-tested selection, this mid-sized Japanese maple tree bears rich-green leaves that turn bright orange in autumn. It's sturdy and tolerates heat better than many other varieties.

  Name: Acer palmatum 'Hogyoku'

  Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil

  Size: 15 feet tall and wide

  Zones: 6-9

  Choose It Because: You need a variety that's heat tolerant.
• Golden Fullmoon Maple

  An exceptionally beautiful plant, this Japanese maple tree features golden-yellow leaves through the summer. In fall, the leaf tips develop red edges while the leaf center stays golden.

  Name: Acer shirasawanum 'Aureum'

  Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil

  Size: 20 feet tall and wide

  Zones: 5-7

  Choose It Because: You need a Japanese maple with golden foliage.
• Beni Kawa

  A tree for all seasons, this Japanese maple features small green leaves that turn golden-yellow in fall. In winter, the plant really shines because of its clear-red stems. They look stunning against a backdrop of snow.

  Name: Acer palmatum 'Beni kawa'

  Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil

  Size: 15 feet tall, 12 feet wide

  Zones: 6-9

  Choose It Because: You want winter interest.
• Higasayama

  A favorite for bonsai, this dwarf Japanese maple tree offers pink buds that open into leaves colored in cream, green, and fuchsia. As the season progresses, the Japanese maple leaves fade to green, then change to glowing shades of gold and yellow in autumn.

  Name: Acer palmatum 'Higasayama'

  Growing conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil

  Size: 15 feet tall and wide

  Zones: 6-8

  Choose It Because: You enjoy variegated foliage.
• Emperor 1

  A favorite because of its dark purple-red foliage, the Japanese maple tree Emperor 1 is also a good choice for northern gardens as its leaves open a bit later than most -- helping it avoid late spring frosts. It also offers brilliant scarlet-red fall color.

  Name: Acer palmatum 'Wolff'

  Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil

  Size: 15 feet tall and wide

  Zones:5-8

  Choose It Because: You want a good red-leaf type or live in the North.
• Coral Bark

  A good-sized Japanese maple tree with multi-season appeal, 'Sango-kaku' features green leaves that turn brilliant yellow in fall. After the leaves drop, the stems show off a bright coral-red color.

  Name: Acer palmatum 'Sango-kaku'

  Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil

  Size: 20 feet tall and 15 feet wide

  Zones: 6-8

  Choose It Because: You want winter interest.
• Sumi Nagashi

  This big red Japanese maple tree variety offers deeply cut leaves and rich, purple-red foliage that looks good all spring and summer. In fall, the graceful leaves turn bright crimson.

  Name: Acer palmatum 'Sumi nagashi'

  Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil

  Size:18 feet tall and wide

  Zones: 5-8

  Choose It Because: You want a big red cut-leaf variety.
• Bloodgood

  A classic, the Japanese maple 'Bloodgood' offers deeply cut, purple-red leaves that hold their color well through the summer. Then in fall the tree develops striking crimson-red color.

  Name: Acer palmatum 'Bloodgood'

  Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil

  Size: 20 feet tall and wide

  Zones: 6-8

  Choose It Because You want a time-tested big red cut-leaf variety.
• Villa Taranto

  This eye-catching variety of Japanese maple tree offers deeply cut, spidery leaves that emerge pink in spring, then fade to bright green in summer. In autumn the leaves again change -- this time to beautiful golden yellow.

  Name: Acer palmatum 'Villa Taranto'

  Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil

  Size: 10 feet tall and wide

  Zones: 6-8

  Choose It Because You want a small cut-leaf variety.
• Crimson Queen

  This stunning variety of Japanese maple offers weeping branches of beautiful crimson-purple foliage. In autumn, the finely cut leaves turn bright crimson.

  Name: Acer palmatum 'Crimson Queen'

  Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil

  Size: 12 feet tall and wide

  Zones: 5-8

  Choose It Because: You want a weeping red cut-leaf variety.
• Beni Schichihenge

  A smaller Japanese maple tree, this stunning variety offers blue-green leaves variegated in shades of pink and cream. In fall, they change to exciting shades of orange and gold. It also tends to resist leaf scorch from hot, dry weather better than many varieties.

  Name: Acer palmatum 'Beni schichihenge'

  Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil

  Size: 8 feet tall and wide

  Zones: 6-9

  Choose It Because: You want variegated foliage or a heat-resistant variety.
• Aconitifolium

  We think this is one of the most beautiful Japanese maples. It offers deeply cut, almost ferny foliage that opens to green and turns shades of red, orange, and yellow in fall.

  Name: Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium' (also called 'Maiku jaku')

  Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil

  Size: 10 feet tall and wide

  Zones: 5-8

  Choose It Because: You need a cut-leaf Japanese maple with a great texture.
• Caperci Dwarf

  This small, slow-growing Japanese maple tree offers pink-tinged new growth that fades to green as the season progresses. Then in fall, the green leaves turn a nice shade of warm, glowing gold.

  Name: Acer palmatum 'Caperci Dwarf'

  Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil

  Size: 6 feet tall; 10 or more feet wide

  Zones: 6-8

  Choose It Because: You need a Japanese maple for a container or for a small space.
• Vitifolium

  A big, sturdy Japanese maple tree, this variety offers wide, deep green leaves that turn bright shades of gold, yellow, orange, and scarlet in autumn.

  Name: Acer japonicum 'Vitifolium'

  Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil

  Size: 25 feet tall and wide

  Zones: 5-9

  Choose It Because You need a Japanese maple that tolerates cold or warm weather well.
• • Dissectum Atropurpureum

    This classic Japanese maple variety bears deeply cut, feathery red-purple leaves that turn bright crimson in fall. We also love its graceful, weeping habit.

    Name: Acer palmatum 'Dissectum Atropurpureum'

    Growing Conditions: Part shade and moist, well-drained soil

    Size: 8 feet tall and wide

    Zones: 6-9

    Choose It Because: You want a good, small-size red cut-leaf variety.

    • Learn more about Japanese maples!

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