Gardens have always been a massive part of art and culture in countries like China and Japan—they have been cultivated since ancient times. During the war, they were the only place where people could find serenity and tranquility.
Many people are fascinated with the concept of an oriental garden and want to create something similar on their property. However, the majority of them also think that they will not be able to afford it as it is expensive. Nothing could be further from the truth. There are many ways in which you can make your garden look oriental without spending a ton of money.
Want to find out how? Well, all you have to do is keep reading then:
Conduct a Research
‘Oriental garden’ is a broad term, as it can mean both the Chinese garden and the Japanese garden. Of course, some features characterize both of those. However, to better understand what each of them looks like, and which one you want to recreate in your backyard, you should do at least a little bit of research.
Also, while doing your research, you might find some ideas on how to save money by doing a little DIY magic. You will be surprised at how many things you can do by yourself without being a professional.
Getting Started
If you do not know where to start with the garden, the first thing you should do is remove the plants that seem out of space. They can be replaced by, for example, a lantern.
If you have wood lying around, consider building a bridge. Bridges are a very important element of the oriental gardens. They represent the journey of life and are a place where you can stop to admire the beauty of the landscape.
Add a Water Feature
It would not be an authentic oriental garden without a water feature, no matter if it is a waterfall, a pond, or a fountain. There is a reason behind it – water is a basic element of life. In a Japanese garden, a pond symbolizes the ocean and sea, and just like them, it should be asymmetrical.
Water features are easy to make by yourself, especially a pond. If you look at any store that deals with pond aeration, you will be able to find the needed parts without making a dent in your pocket. The same goes for a fountain and waterfall.
Keep Things Simple
When it comes to oriental gardens, keeping things simple is the best way to go. Making things grand and glam will not work in this case, as the oriental gardens are the testaments of simplicity and purpose. The saying ‘less is more’ is a perfect representation of an oriental garden.
Use elements that incorporate simplicity, such as a bamboo fence. As a renewable material, bamboo is an excellent addition to this scenario. Another thing is that bamboo fences are not that expensive, in comparison to other fence materials. It is a win-win.
Add a Pathway
In oriental gardens, almost everything has a deeper meaning – even the pathways. They symbolize the journey of life and make you contemplate it as you walk through the garden. The pathways very often go through the whole garden and wind past concrete statues and icons.
Making your own pathways is not only simple, but it is also very cheap. Just go to any home-improvement and construction store, and you will definitely find everything you need. To help you a little with the task, here is a list of things that you should purchase—flagstone, gravel, mulch or compost, potting soil, sand, and ground cover plants. You will also need tools like level, rubber mallet, wheelbarrow, and spade.
When it comes to the statues, most of them are relatively cheap, unless you want to import it from Japan or China, or you want to invest in an antique to feel like you are in an actual oriental garden which has been there for years.
You do not have to spend a lot of money if you want to make your garden look oriental. You can do a lot of things by yourself, or you can browse through the internet, as there are many stores that offer beautiful home and garden decor for peanuts. Besides, the oriental garden is not about glam or expensiveness, but rather keeping things simple, small, and harmonical, which you can do without making a dent in your pocket.
If there are some imperfections in your garden, leave them be – the beauty of an oriental garden is achieved by its asymmetric plan. Imperfection is an element of nature, and that is what these gardens are all about – bringing the outside world to a small, closed space.
