Japanese garden design for Australian backyards

Want to make a Japanese garden in your own backyard? With the right advice, Japanese inspired design elements can fit perfectly into Australian garden spaces.

Japanese garden design incorporates a very specific set of design philosophies and principles. The basic idea is to use the natural elements in the garden, like plants, rock, stone, wood or water, in a simplified way in order for them to 'express their own essence'.

"Anyone working in Japanese garden design shows a great deal of respect for the natural materials used in the design," says Ken Lamb from Imperial Gardens in Terrey Hills, one of Australia's foremost oriental garden design firms. "This principle can be applied to Australian gardens without the entire garden needing to be a fully realised Japanese garden."

Apart from Tasmania, which has weather similar to parts of Japan, Australia has very different conditions to the Japanese climate. Despite this, many Japanese plants grow very well here, and planting one is the easiest way to introduce a Japanese element to an Australian garden.

Asian-inspired trees

Japanese maples, Japanese black pine, azaleas, camellias, Japanese box, Mondo grass, junipers and Buddhist pines are all examples of Japanese plants that grow well in Australia and provide a unique look to a garden. Consider the gorgeous seasonal colour changes of Japanese maples, the lovely flowers and shiny green leaves of camellias, and the dark green blades of the Mondo grass.

Water lilies are also Japanese in origin, and along with the water they grow in, are often used to bring a tranquil, serene feel to a garden. "Water is often used in Japanese garden design," says Ken. "It can be used in water features like water gardens, bamboo water features, or beautiful stone bowls containing water. Or it can be represented in 'kare-sansui', where water is suggested by the use of pebbles or sand."

Even though Australian rock, stone and timber are different from those in Japan, these elements can be used in Japanese ways in our gardens to produce similar effects. To make a garden with a Japanese look: "It comes down to using those natural elements in a way that respects them and allows them to express their character," says Ken.

Creating a Japanese feel in your garden can be as simple as introducing a quiet, reflective space with a seat in one corner. Often a water feature, a stone sculpture or a feature tree - an unusual or distinctively shaped tree - is a part of these spaces.

Japanese garden design takes many years to master, so it's best to consult an expert to help you add some distinctive and beautiful Japanese features to your outdoor spaces: