Gardening for all ages

You may have read our previous blogs about why gardening is good for your health, or why children should get into gardening, but can everyone really enjoy gardening?In a word: YES! The passion to garden can come to someone at any time in life and for many reasons. There are numerous ways for you to express your green fingers! Whether you plant flowers, or grow vegetables and fruit bushes – you can let your imagination run wild in your garden.

If you have children, it's never too early to teach them the benefits of gardening. Gardening teaches them to appreciate and have respect for the Earth. They can learn about plant varieties and enjoy being outside for fresh air and exercise.
By the same token, retirement can be a fabulous time to take up gardening. Many people may be highly anticipating their retirement, and welcome at the end of their 9-5, but others can also dread the long periods of time without something worthwhile do to.

Having huge amounts of free time can be liberating for a while, but often it becomes overwhelming for retirees. If you want something meaningful and joyous to fill some of your free time the gardening really is a fantastic option. You may want to become a part-time gardener at home, or join your local horticulture club or community garden.

No matter the type of garden you choose to tend, gardening is wonderful for everyone for anyone who chooses to pursue the hobby. If you love gardening, or want to get into gardening then you have to take a look around our website, and if you have any questions or would like any advice you can call us on – 01509 621300!

Create your own peaceful Japanese Garden

There is something quite calming and stress relieving about an Asian style garden. Using a combination of plants, colours, ground textures and structures, Japanese gardens are highly stylized and depict a miniature idealized landscape.

There are certain features that are sure to give your garden a taste of the orient.

Water

Water is a natural element and as such it belongs in your garden. Western gardens focus on colours and the visual appearance where as a Japanese garden focus more on nature and the natural flow of outdoors.

Water or something that represents water such as white sand in dry gardens is always represented in a Japanese garden. Any pond included in a garden should be an irregular shape to convey a natural shape.

Rocks and plants can be included in the ponds which will also help the pond look more natural and not man-made.

Trees and Plants

Although a Japanese garden attempts to symbolize nature, there is nothing wild or random in its design. Even the plants are well thought out to create the look, whether it’s for strong greens of conifers to last all year, or the changing of vivid reds in Autumn which make the gardens in Kyoto so famous.  We recommend Acers for creating this lovely bright red in Autumn.

No tree is more synonymous with Japanese culture is that of the Bonsai plant. The trees are pruned and trimmed to retain their unique shape and to not over shroud the rest of your garden.

At Seagrave Nurseries we stock a range of Bonsai trees in a variety of heights and sizes so you can find a perfect fit for your Japanese inspired garden. They’re easy to care for as long as you give them a trim every now and again.

Rocks and Sand

As mentioned, sand represents the flow of water in a dry garden. It often has lines raked into it to create a visual effect of movement and the flow of water.

Rocks are often placed in the sand to represent mountains and the earth.  If they are placed in a formation of three, the tallest represents heaven, the middle size represents humanity and the shortest symbolises the earth.

Stone features

Stone lanterns are a common feature which originally served the purpose of locating the temples they were placed around.

As gardens are often the setting for tea ceremonies, water basins were a common feature. Guests would be encouraged to wash their hands and mouth before entering the tea house.

Remember

Keep the garden simple. Don’t be tempted to include every feature of a Japanese garden all in one.

Browse our full range of trees, topiary and plants in person and see what fits with your garden whatever the theme. Our nursery is situated in Leicestershire. Contact us today for more information on our nursery plants