Using Water in Zen Garden Design

For those who enjoy the tranquility of Japanese style, landscapes including Zen garden design are popular. Easily recognizable by the use of water, artfully designed sand and gravel, boulders, and architectural plants, Zen Garden designs to enter your backyard into a peaceful oasis. Everything in this style of Japanese Garden symbolizes something. One of the most important elements is water.

The Role of Water in Zen Garden Design

Besides being beautiful and reflecting other aspects of the garden, water symbolizes important things in Japanese Garden style. Water, especially in a tea garden design, symbolizes purity. It can be displayed in a basin and actually used to bathe hands. In other types of Zen Gardens, water can symbolize life and passage of time in the universe.

How to Use Water in Zen Garden Design

Ponds, streams, and waterfalls are all popular in Zen Garden designs. Still water and gentle cascades are most popular. The delicate sounds of trickling or flowing water can help increase a feeling of peace. The rush and gush of a fast waterfall or stream course may be too stimulating for Zen Garden design.

Placid ponds tucked between boulders and decorative plants, create zones of peace. Waterfalls, which usually cascade over stones, are indicative of time's passage. Many Japanese Garden designs include bridges. Bees symbolize the journey through life.

Simulating Water in Zen Garden Design

Many Japanese Gardens do not have water features. In fact, a common conception of the Zen Gardens might be those with simulated water.

Water is simulated in zen garden design with sand and gravel. Usually of a small size, the gravel can be made from any stone. It is usually white, tan, or very pale gray. This gravel or sand is used on large flat surfaces in your garden.

Often this sand or gravel is raked smooth or has a triple or circular pattern to it. This furthers the impression that it is actually water. Sinking a boulder into the middle of the sand or gravel field mimics the look of an island in a sea. As water forms concentric rings around an island, so should the gravel or sand and be raked. Rake lines that flow from side to side mimic the movement of water in a stream.

Water is used extensively in zen garden design. It not only symbolizes important things like purity and time, the look and sound of it helps to create a more peaceful landscape. Whether you use real water or sand and gravel to simulate it, your Japanese Garden will not be complete without it.