A taste of Japan

Rocks, water and evergreens are the foundations of a Japanese-style garden. But you don’t need a teahouse to add a flavour of the East to your plot, says Louise Curley

- Louise Curley

RENOWNED for their distinctive style, attention to detail and minimalist feel, Japanese gardens bring together those three elements to create a truly tranquil space. Unlike in the West, where trends come and go quickly, the fundamentals of Japanese garden design have evolved over centuries, and the Japanese have been able to preserve their unique approach to horticulture.

There are several different types, but it’s the dry gardens, tea gardens and courtyards that are most easily adapted by British gardeners and garden designers. Many of their elements are well-suited to small spaces, while their understated beauty adds a contemporary feel. Of course, you don’t have to go all out when embracing this style of garden; you could just make a small corner – a spot for quiet contemplation – that’s screened off from the rest of your plot.

Inspired by nature

Central to any Japanese garden is the idea of creating a refined version of the natural world. Instead of jam-packed borders, these spaces give breathing room to individual elements so they can be appreciated in their own right, thereby creating a sense of balance and calm. Less is definitely more!

Another crucial characteristic is a pared-back planting scheme in which calming evergreens dominate. Along with providing year-round structure, these are often pruned into individual domes to represent pebbles, or grown en masse and clipped to look like green valleys. Bright hues, meanwhile, are used sparingly – usually to highlight the changing seasons. For instance, cherry blossom in spring, peony flowers in summer and acer foliage in autumn.

Borrowed landscape