Despite my garden being full to overflowing after the spring rain I have decided to create a new area for a Japanese Garden. When starting a new project I was advised to have a name that may colour the end result. I opted for the grand title of ‘Japan Land’  This will be a long term project and I won’t rush it as I have on other projects in the past.

Action Plan for my Japanese Garden

• Read up on the various forms and the nature of Japanese gardens.

• Decide which area is going to be sacrificed to provide space for the Japanese garden.
• Draw a rough plan  on a piece of paper and list the features to be incorporated.
• Walk the patch and see if any plants need to be left in situ. I have a couple of Azaleas that I want to keep.
• List the gardening problems I have caused in the past that I hope to avoid on this project.

Past Problems to Avoid

• I generally leave too little space for paths and access.
• Forgetting  to label or record the location of a particular plant  has meant I do not give any individual treatment until it is too late.
• Many Japanese favourites are long lived such as Acer, Wisteria and Peonies so I must leave enough space for them to grow and develop.

Japanese Features

• Moss and greenery – I am collecting mossy rocks and treating others with moss food (old Yohgurt & soil)
• Asymmetrical shapes and layout will be a contrast to the straight lines of my formal borders.
• Preferring plants to structures in this garden I need to change and incorporate some formal structures short of a tea-house. Think about motion, water and space.
• The foreground, middle-ground and background need too be viewed several times from all vantage points before I move on to a detailed drawn plant.

Well it should be back to the Books for a while, a good pastime for Autumn when the workload reduces.

Phase Two Action Plan

• Bring the various plans together in a more detailed manner.
• Test the conditions of the site, ph, rain shadow, shade and nutrient levels.
• Clear the site except for the odd plant that is being saved. Relocate or give away surplus plants.
• Order the key trees and plants or visit specialist nurseries to acquire.
• Install the main structural features and any plants that need to be established before winter.
• Tell the family what I want for Christmas.

View from the other side of the proposed site. Minimum size 15′ by 10′ to be reconsidered.

Read also my Japanese garden project and Giggle Alley or more features
On a more war like footing the features in a Samurai garden include those listed here.