It’s spring and time to think about our outdoor living spaces. Using feng shui for your garden landscape design creates a peaceful and serene place that is inviting, relaxing and energizing. Feng shui works with the beauty of nature and enhances all of the Earth’s elements such as wood, water, metal, fire and earth. The goal of a feng shui garden is to achieve balance in these elements with your overall landscape design
The use of the feng shui elements, the arrangement of color and the placement of each object or plant has an important role in the balance and harmony you want to create. Curvy areas and pathways, raised flowerbeds and various levels of rock all help the energy to flow through your garden.Your garden will be in tune with nature and provide you with the beneficial effects of positive energy.
Feng shui gardens feature mountains, greenery and water. Rocks and raised flowerbeds can symbolically represent mountains, while plants, shrubbery or trees provide the necessary greenery. A water feature can provide the water element such as a fountain, pond or birdbath. You may prefer to create a symbolic river of stones and rocks to represent water.
The five elements of feng shui are represented in your garden by various plants and objects. The following are some of the ways to bring the elements into your garden.
- Earth: soil, rocks and boulders, clay flowerpots
- Wood: arbor, planting boxes, bench
- Water: fountain, birdbath
- Fire: lights, lanterns, fire pit
- Metal: wind chimes, arbor, planters
Colors play an important role in a feng shui garden. They should bring you pleasure when you look at them as they reflect back to you positive healing energy. Different colors have different energy levels and affect our feelings and moods. For example, cool colors such as purples and white have a soothing effect while hot colors like reds and bright yellows make your energy level rise. Both types of colors are wonderful in a feng shui garden but they should never be mixed together or in the same area. In feng shui the yin colors are healing and relaxing. These colors include blue, black, purple and white.
The yang colors (orange and yellow) represent the elements of wood and fire. They provide motivation, enthusiasm and positive energy to get the job done.
Feng shui gardens must be free of clutter. Everything has a specific purpose and place. Each tree, plant and object is there to balance the five feng shui elements. Remove fallen tree branches, dried leaves or decaying plants right away as their presence disrupts the flow of energy and lowers the energy level of the area.
Applying the principles of feng shui to your garden landscape design will give you a feeling of calm and well-being as you enjoy your special outside place. Don’t forget to add doorways or passageways throughout your garden design along the pathways as you move from one area to another. A moongate, a rounded passageway is a classical feng shui garden design element. Other passages can be created with various structures or simple arbors or archways created by trees or shrubberies.