How to Make a Miniature Japanese Garden
The Japanese design and create miniature gardens in an attempt to reproduce a natural Japanese scene, using a variety of materials and miniature plants no more than a few inches tall. Think small and try your hand at your own miniature Japanese garden. Read on to learn how to make a miniature Japanese garden.
Things You'll Need
- Japanese style dish, at least 8 inches in diameter, and a minimum of 2 inches deep.
- Miniature ground covering such as decorative grasses, Irish moss, tiny succulents or lemon thyme
- Sand
- Multi-colored pebbles or terrarium rocks
- Small stones
- Potting soil
- Bonsai tree, miniature rose or anything small enough to represent a tiny tree
- Miniature bridges and statues
- Small pieces of balsa wood for fences
- Tiny shards of broken china or tile for pathways
- White sand or white powder
Instructions
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Plan your miniature Japanese garden ahead of time. A Japanese garden should have tiny Japanese bridges, a pond or stream and miniature trees. A formal Japanese garden will have simple pathways and sculptures.
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2
Lay a foundation of damp potting soil an inch deep and cover the potting soil with a layer of sand.
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3
Add more sand where needed to mold mountains and hills. If desired, sprinkle some white sand or powder on mountaintops to represent snow.
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4
Place some small stones in the Japanese garden.
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5
Plant the small tree and the ground covering of your choice.
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Arrange the sand to appear like streams running between the stones and mountains, and place the miniature bridges over them.
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7
Leave your miniature Japanese garden as is, or add more embellishments if you desire.
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Tips & Warnings
Dollhouse suppliers are an excellent source for tiny sculptures and bridges, at prices considerably cheaper than specialty garden shops.
