DIY Japanese Yard Decorations

Plantings

• Bonsai plants, often featured on Japanese lawns, require patient care and maintenance that produces a miniature tree. Once planted in the appropriate container, the woody shrub or tree is pruned following intricately prescribed techniques. Beginners often choose to train the plant to the classic koten form so that the plant tapers from a wide trunk streamlining upward in a triangular fashion. Evergreen varieties of spruce, pine and juniper are often used in bonsai and to accent Japanese lawns.

  Other plants that complement a Japanese lawn are bamboo, maples, redtip photinia, yew, jasmine and azaleas. The textures and arrangements of the plants add flow and assist the eyes in moving around to experience all the beauty and calm of the lawn.

  Zoysia, a perennial creeping grass native to southeastern Asia, sets the stage for a Japanese lawn with its mossy, flowing appearance and fine-bladed texture. As a lawn cover, zoysia, or Japanese lawn grass, serves well in a wide range of conditions. Its maintenance is a plus as it has less need for watering and mowing than many lawn grasses.

Paths

• Japanese lawns and gardens feature decorations that create a sense of journey. Important elements of that are paths--often lit by exquisitely delicate tea lanterns or a stone snow lantern. Form a journey path through your Japanese lawn by arranging natural shapes of slate or wood as stepping stones.

  Whether your lawn has a stream or you want to construct a dry riverbed of river rock, a bridge made of bamboo that spans the water or rocks can add a definite Japanese style to a lawn. Water features such as small lily ponds or a small bowl with floating flowers adds an important element to enhance Japanese lawns.

Sculpture and Rocks

• Lawn accents such as rocks and sculpture can decorate your lawn in a Japanese style when arranged in a beautiful yet functional fashion.

  A stone sentinel often welcomes the guest on the journey experience of a Japanese lawn. This can be achieved by locating a stone resembling human form or a statue akin to a warrior deity can be cut or carved from old tree trunks.

  Buddha sculpture is commonly found in Japanese spaces. Rocks can be arranged to simulate the form of a Buddha or a small statue can be strategically placed on rocks.

  Rocks are an essential element of decorating a Japanese lawn. Use rocks to add seating and dimension. Large boulders or grouping of medium to small rocks can be artfully designed with plants to resemble mountains and trees. A weathered rock with a hollow to collect water combines two important decorative elements for Japanese lawns.