Fencing Ideas for Your Zen Garden

Written by Posted On Monday, 13 June 2016 11:52

Zen gardens have a long history, yet their elegant lines are in perfect harmony with modern sensibilities and architecture. You can create a serene space in your backyard by understanding how the simple elements of Zen design make an impression that’s greater than sum of its parts. Whether you devote an entire yard to the layout, or just a corner of a patio, the goal is the same: to build a peaceful haven separate from the distractions of the outside world.

A Place to Meditate

Buddhist priests created the original Zen gardens in 14th-century Japan. They were used to deepen meditative practices, and the uncluttered designs enhanced the practitioners’ quiet contemplation. Where other gardens emphasize abundance and foliage, a Zen garden has empty, open spaces with relatively few plants.

Elements of Design

Sometimes called dry gardens, in their most basic form, Zen gardens feature natural elements such as wood, stones, gravel and sand. Water has always been a theme even when the garden is completely dry. Pebbles raked into sinuous ripples evoke images of lakes and rivers, and some gardens incorporate natural or man-made water features such as koi-filled ponds.

Creating a World Apart With Walls and Fences

Zen gardens have traditionally used fences to separate the space from other environs. Many gardens also use interior walls and fences to create distinct rooms within a larger landscape. The interior walls can mark paths, direct the viewer’s gaze, or surround resting places.

With its emphasis on natural materials, bamboo, wood and stone are among the most popular choices for a Zen garden. A simple fence may be all that’s needed to enclose the garden, but some gardens use ornate constructions, too. Bamboo is a versatile material. Simple bamboo fences can be constructed from straight rods but may also be lashed into more elaborate designs.

Bamboo is not the only choice for your garden. Wood is equally as pleasing to the eye, is readily available, and is often durable. Construction featuring stonework is another choice. It’s especially appropriate for creating interior walls.

 

Design Your Space

 

Decide on the area for your garden. Sketch out some rough ideas, planning the garden’s major components just as paths, gravel fields, ponds and fences. From broad outlines, move to the details of the materials you want to use. For instance, you might want to use a combination of bamboo walls to create private areas within the garden, while the perimeter of your yard makes use of a sturdier wood fence. Interior elements can remain true to the austere heritage of a Zen garden, or you can liven up the space with plants such as maple trees, azaleas and other perennials.

 

A Zen garden should help you feel calm and serene. Choose sparingly from among natural materials to create a sanctuary where quiet thought and a connection to nature override the bustle of the outside world.

 

About the Author:

 

Chris Moore owns and operates  Pacific Fence & Wire Co., a family owned and operated Oregon fence company that has been serving Portland, Oregon and the greater Pacific Northwest since 1921. Follow Pacific Fence & Wire Co. on Facebook.

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Pacific Fence and Wire Co.

Pacific Fence & Wire Co. is a family owned and operated Oregon fence company that has been serving Portland, Oregon and the greater Pacific Northwest since 1921.

www.pacificfence.com

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