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.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

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

1. 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.

2. Lay a foundation of damp potting soil an inch deep and cover the potting soil with a layer of sand.

3. Add more sand where needed to mold mountains and hills. If desired, sprinkle some white sand or powder on mountaintops to represent snow.

4. Place some small stones in the Japanese garden.

5. Plant the small tree and the ground covering of your choice.

6. Arrange the sand to appear like streams running between the stones and mountains, and place the miniature bridges over them.

7. Leave your miniature Japanese garden as is, or add more embellishments if you desire.

Tips & Warnings

• Dollhouse suppliers are an excellent source for tiny sculptures and bridges, at prices considerably cheaper than specialty garden shops.