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No. 61 Landscaping · Japanese & Zen

Japanese Courtyard Terraces with Raked Gravel

Granite steps and wooden terraces navigate stone retaining walls, moss, red maples, and raked gravel within a Japanese zen garden bordered by dark timber siding and cedar screens.

Design notes

Japanese and zen design work by subtraction. Look for a few well-placed stones, raked gravel or moss instead of lawn, a Japanese maple or black pine pruned to show its structure, a stone basin or still pond, and timber and bamboo screens that hide the rest of the yard. Paths are stepping stones set to slow you down; colours are green, grey and charcoal with one seasonal flash of red.

What to look for

  • Three layers: canopy, shrubs, groundcover
  • How hardscape and planting share the edges
  • Plants suited to the climate, not just the photo
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