How to Plan Prayer Gardens

Many prayers gardens have benches or other types of seating.

A prayer garden is an intimate, cozy space outdoors where a person can commune with nature, meditate or talk to God. Planning this type of garden depends on the space and your budget. A sitting area, the right type of plants and a focal point help create an area where you and others can reflect on what's truly important in life. Whether you're designing a prayer garden for your own backyard, a church or your community, proper planning is the key to success.

Things You'll Need

• Focal point item (wrought iron bench, bubbling fountain, sundial, memorial tree, religious statue or other lawn ornament)
• Plants
• Stepping stones, gravel bricks or wood planks
• Outdoor seating
• Wind chimes, a birdhouse or other decorative effects

Instructions

1. Talk to the landscape architect or other professional who will build the garden for you if you can't do it on your own. He can give you ideas for prayer gardens so you can make the right choices depending on your needs and budget.

2. Pick the location for your prayer garden. Select a space that's cozy and private. It doesn't have to be a large area.

3. Select a focal point for the prayer garden. This may be an attractive wrought iron bench, a bubbling fountain, sundial, memorial tree, religious statue or other lawn ornament that reflects a serene, peaceful ambiance.

4. Talk to someone at a garden center about plants that will thrive in the prayer garden location. If if's in the middle of woods, shade-loving plants are appropriate. You may have areas in your prayer garden that receive sunlight throughout most of the day and other areas that are shady. Read books about flower gardens to glean information about plants that will thrive in your location.

5. Pick plants with different blooming times so your prayer garden contains color throughout most of the year. You can pick plants with interesting or colorful foliage during their growth cycles.

6. Purchase stepping stones, gravel bricks or wood planks to create a pathway through your prayer garden, if it's large enough to have a path leading to or through it. Some people prefer not to create a path, but rather enjoy the natural look created by walking the same path daily. This is a wise way to make the garden area seem more inviting and private.

7. Pick seating for your garden area to provide a spot to read a Bible or other faith-based material, to pray, sing worship songs or simply be at one with nature. Wrought iron benches, tree stumps, a hammock chair or a tree swing all are acceptable choices. If the prayer garden is large, you can create seating in different areas throughout the garden, so more than one person can visit at a time.

Tips & Warnings

• Add wind chimes, a birdhouse or other decorative effects to the trees in your prayer garden. The tinkling of the wind chimes or sounds of birds singing help create a prayerful atmosphere.

• Prayer gardens require regular maintenance to keep the area looking attractive. If you don't have time to take care of it yourself, talk to a landscaper or gardener about how much she will charge for regular maintenance.

• Select a theme for your prayer garden. English, wildflower or butterfly gardens all exemplify God's creations with an informal look.

References

• Flourish; "A Thrilling Encounter with God": How to Start a Church Prayer Garden; March 2011
• Recover From Grief.com: A Memorial Garden