When designing your garden with an Asian or Japanese inspiration it will have a very Zen feel. An original Japanese garden will be found at Buddhist temples or Shinto shrines, but there are many ways to bring that same feel to your own backyard. There are three main elements used throughout a Japanese inspired garden including plants, rocks and water features.

Japanese inspired gardens pull a lot of inspiration and guideline from the ancient style of Feng Shui. Positioning your elements for harmony and balance is the key. Water plays an important part in a Japanese inspired garden as well. Water is the energy or life force of the universe and is believed to be present in all living things. Where water flows there is said to be health, abundance and prosperity. If no water is presence there is said to be illness and decay.

Plants - Plants of course will be vital in all gardens; however there are specific types of plants and grasses found in Japanese gardens. Bonsai trees are very traditional in this garden. Bonsai translates to "tray planting" and is a potted plant. So strategically placing potted plants and trees will give your garden the Japanese inspired Zen-like feel. To plant and grow the correct Bonsai tree you must have the knowledge of pruning and shaping the plant. What makes these potted plants stand out from others is they are shaped by using wires so when the tree or plant grows it twists itself around the wire, and then the wire is removed when the plant is grown to the desired shape. Some options of beautiful grasses to enhance your Zen-like feel in your garden are:

• Melica Uniflora - Beautiful tall growing grass that flowers as well.
• Lamarckia Aurea - Tall grass that flowers as well.
• Blue Fescue - Shorter grass, used well to create borders and framework.
• Japanese Blood Grass & Red Baron Grass - Tall grass named after their beautiful color.
• Lemon Grass - Semi-tall grass that can be clipped and steeped for tea.

Rocks - Rocks can be used in many very interesting ways in a Japanese inspired garden. For example, you can place rocks or boulders in a place where it is difficult for plants or flowers to grow. You can also create lined walkways and paths through your gardens with edgework of stones or boulders. Adding rocks close to or around a water feature will give the space the natural element of a garden. Rocks may also be used to define a stream through your garden or oversized boulders can be a place to sit and observe all the beauty.

Water Features - It is said in Japanese traditions that placing a water feature in the North, East, or South corners of your space is said to bring wealth and prosperity. The water should always flow toward your house or a large window to invite good, healthy energy into your home. A water feature must also be proportionate to the size of the garden. Placing a water feature that is too small will signify a lack of abundance and placing a feature too large may be too powerful for your home. Always keep your water feature free of debris and algae to avoid blockage of the good energies water brings, and also placing goldfish in your water features will signify a symbol of wealth among Japanese cultures.

Japanese gardens are beautiful and offer a relaxing, peaceful place to spend your time and energy. Keeping the main elements of plants, rocks and water features will help you create your Zen-like space.