Japanese Style Beds - The last piece of the puzzle

hoppity

Hi All, I've designed several japanese style beds around my garden and had my designs brought to life by a local landscaper. The final small bed around the second patio area has me stumped for the first time.  Its a small semi-circular bed around the second patio. The soil tends to be heavy clay and although a lot of it was removed and new well drained soiled added. The bed would normally be in full sun most of the time so they tend to get very dry in summer but recently became waterlogged during the recent heavy rains. I was wondering what plants would be suitable for these conditions which would fit in with the other Japanese beds - they would be minimal plants and perhap 2-3 smaller stones inthe gravel. Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

John

Dovefromabove

Hello @hoppity and welcome to the forum 

You're creating a gorgeous garden ... have you had a look at this thread? 

https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1061724/everyday-japanese-gardens/p1  

Perhaps @chris.elsdon could make some suggestions?

Plantminded

If you'd like something evergreen which would suit your Japanese planting style, consider any Euonymus (I like Green Spire, but there are many others) and Pittosporum tenuifolium (Golf ball has a nice round shape but there are other varieties too.)

For more options have a look at this specialist nursery's website: Japanese Garden Design, Construction and Materials (buildajapanesegarden.com)

Kurisu

Dovefromabove said:

Hello @hoppity and welcome to the forum 

You're creating a gorgeous garden ... have you had a look at this thread? 

https://forum.gardenersworld.com/discussion/1061724/everyday-japanese-gardens/p1  

Perhaps @chris.elsdon could make some suggestions?

Not from an expert point of view at all, but from looking at the pictures, my first thought is I don’t tend to see a lot of grass in gardens. Also, any trees you would put in that space would obscure the nice work you have done behind. It makes me think of using gravel and stones or moss and stones. A dry garden?

As I say, I’m only just beginning at this type of thing, so I don’t really know. 

Hope that might help though. 

Chris

Kurisu

Ryoan-ji:
http://www.ryoanji.jp/smph/eng/garden/index.html

Shinnyo-do:
http://kyoto.asanoxn.com/places/okazaki/shinnyodo/phsnd260.htm

Konpuku-ji:
http://kyoto.asanoxn.com/places/shisendo_etc/konpukuji/phkpj130.htm

Tenryu-ji (Dry Waterfall):

http://kyoto.asanoxn.com/places/arashiyama/tenryuji/ph250tenryuji_taki_ishigumi.htm

Tofuku-ji (Abbot’s Hall Garden):
https://damien.douxchamps.net/photo/japan/kyoto/higashiyama/tofukuji/

Loxley

I think you should fix the drainage issue, as most plants that tolerate summer drought dislike winter wet (at least, the most desirable ones...) Do you have a low spot you can divert the water away to?

Lovely garden!

hoppity

Thanks all for the help. I will look into improving the drainage at some point but it may be to expensive to do. I would love to turned the whole lawn into gravel/dry beds but they are unsuitable for my wheelchair and the dogs enjoy the lawn.

Stay safe all

John