How to Make a Large Zen Garden

Choose an area in your yard to place the Zen garden. The area should be an open space on a flat surface, large enough to accommodate the size of garden you want to create. Measure the perimeter of the garden. A rectangular shape will be easiest to work with.

Cut 2-by-4 inch boards to fit the outline of the Zen garden, and place them around the perimeter of the garden shape.

Nail the 2-by-4 inch boards together. Starting with the top of the frame, use a hammer to nail two nails from the end of the first board to the beginning of the second board. Repeat for every board in the frame.

Use a pair of scissors to cut a piece of black plastic large enough to cover the entire surface of the Zen garden. Place the black plastic down over the area and tuck it under the wooden frame.

Fill the entire wood frame with granite sand in a light or neutral color. Granite sand, available at larger home improvement stores, has a fine texture that is easy to rake into a pattern.

Place several medium to large rocks throughout the garden in a pleasing arrangement.

Use a garden rake to create a wave effect in the sand. Place the rake against the frame and gently pull backwards, moving in small wave patterns so it looks like a stream of water. Repeat over the entire Zen garden or a portion, depending on your tastes.