DIY Zen garden: when to start it?
To put your idea of a Zen garden into practice, you don’t have to follow the seasons of the year, but the seasons of the soul . In fact, what you are going to create is a work that combines meditation and manual skills in compliance with the Buddhist philosophy that assigns to practical activities – such as the colored drawing of the mandala, or precisely gardening – the task of expressing one’s moods. The suggestion therefore is to follow the moment and start in times of stress or change to get the most out of your eastern corner.
But if you are not planning a DIY table – top Zen garden , but rather a real piece of outdoor greenery inspired by the philosophy of Buddhist monks, in that case it is better to wait for the summer. The spring months from April to the end of May are those that allow you to organize outdoor spaces without the risk of sudden showers and without too high a humidity rate that could affect the set-up operations.
What do you need for a DIY Zen garden?
Whether you want to proceed with a tabletop garden or you want to give a zen character to your outdoor space, the materials to be used are the same. Obviously the quantities change in proportion to the dedicated area.
White or colored sand
Granite gravel
Small stones always in odd numbers
Plants and decorative elements
Water for cascades or ponds
What tools to use for a DIY Zen garden?
The list of tools to use to create a DIY Zen garden is very small. Here’s what you need:
4 wooden planks
1 plywood panel
Rake of proportionate size
Container suitable for enclosing about 2-3 cm of sand and gravel
If you want a table garden , we recommend that you also DIY the container: take the wooden planks and assemble them with the plywood panel using nails and wood glue. You can also color it or decorate it depending on where you decide to place it. Otherwise you can also use clear glass bowl. Please Note. As for the sand , you can buy it, for small quantities, in gardening shops or in those that sell products for animals, it is in fact the same sand used for aquariums. On the other hand, it is forbidden by law to stock up on the beach, under penalty of heavy fines established by article 1162 of the Navigation Code .
DIY zen garden: difficulties and time of realization
Making a so-called table-top or miniature Zen garden is an operation that requires little time and does not require any particular skill. You will only have to remember that it is not only an ornamental object, but also an exercise of the spirit. The container with the sand and the ornamental elements such as small stones, or pine cones will have to change according to your mood. Finally, detaching the mind from thoughts, with a small wooden rake, which you can build yourself with a stick and twigs, caress the layer of sand to create an undulatory movement.
The situation is different if you want to dedicate your outdoor environment to a Zen garden. In this case, the difficulty and construction time depend on the space available – terrace or green area – and on the type of more or less complex design. These are the three key principles you need to keep in mind:
- Randomness and symmetry – Objects such as stones, pebbles or pieces of wood must be irregular in shape and resemble those found in nature. The arrangement must be random, to create a path that leads to a small lawn or a pond not visible from the access point.
- Natural elements – Water and plants are a must in the Zen garden. In the larger ones there are small waterfalls or ponds: the sound of flowing water is considered a key element in meditation. Precisely because water is so important in miniature ones, wavy or rounded lines are drawn on the gravel or sand that recall this natural element. As for the plants, the most suitable are those of oriental origin: bamboo, rhododendron, Japanese maple and bonsai. Not being deciduous plants they give the garden a sense of perennial life with their evergreen. If there is not enough soil to plant them, they can be placed in pots.
- Numbers and nature – All the elements in your Zen garden must be odd in number. The disparity serves to mirror the ‘orderly disorder’ that governs nature, of which this space must be a mirror for the comfort of the spirit.
For an garden design project and on a medium-large space, it is advisable to consult a professional gardener or a designer gardener who can evaluate feasibility, costs and timing.
