To Pond or not.
Perhaps one of the most important elements in a Japanese garden is the pond. It can take many shapes and forms and, depending on your style, can serve a practical role as well as an ornamental one. Traditionally, a pond is the centerpiece and focal point of the garden, and this provides the perfect opportunity to put the pond in the right place.
If you want to include water in your garden, you will have to work out exactly where the pond should be situated. If you have a very small garden, it might be better to site your pond on the perimeter of the garden, so that it acts as a good transition between the garden as a whole and the features in the garden.
But if you have a large garden, you will have better luck with making the pond its own feature and letting it blend into the garden. In a way, it is the Japanese concept of sumi or harmony between man and nature.
This also applies to the actual construction of the pond itself. It is best to find some liner or preformed liner to dig into the ground, as this will give a more natural, aged look to the pond. liner is porous and will allow the pond liner to be gently buried during construction. This can also help to eliminate the risk of soil erosion during heavy rain.
Concrete blocks can also be used to make the sides of the pond. Combine the concrete blocks with wood and create a pie tin looking rim around the edge of the pond. It is best to stick to using concrete blocks, as the wood will eventually rot.
A tip I got about a Japanese garden came from a sales associate at a Cabinetry Colorado showroom and they said, “Other nice additions for a Japanese garden are Japanese stone lanterns. These are great, as they are easy to build and maintain, and can be placed anywhere in the garden. Also, they serve as good natural insulation.”
Other gardens can also benefit from a Japanese sense of landscape. cleaning up the garden, keeping it simple, and keeping their larger spaces filled with green grass is the agenda of a Japanese garden.
It is possible to choose the Japanese faith and use garden design to achieve this type of garden. There are different approaches to creating a Japanese garden, but it is possible to find something that suits your garden and your personality.