Zen Garden: Creating.

So, how do you create a Zen Garden? Well, it’s not going to be easy, but then, nothing worth having or creating is easy. So, how do you begin?  Don’t do anything in a rush, take everything slow and easy.  Study your current garden well and jot down in a notebook what you like and what you want to keep; healthy bushes, shrubs or trees, masonry work, decking, anything you would be happy to work around. Then once you have decided on the items you want to keep, the hard work can begin. Before trying to set-up your new-look garden clear away anything you defiantly don’t want, dig up all your untidy, or weak-looking greenery, all out of control ivy or climbers, any plants that are diseased or straggly, and any plants that return every year, plants you don’t particularly want, then you can turn over all the cleared ground and level it out, giving the earth some breathing-space. Then turn to any woodwork, fencing, etc. that is damaged or warped, and rid your garden of that. Then, remove anything broken or not working, any old, items that have seen better days, old pots, discoloured flower boxes, busted hanging baskets, followed by any old garden chairs, tables or seating, shelving for pots, old and rusted garden tools, boxes, bird tables, bird and bee houses. Anything you don’t want or like. Then what you do want to keep, move to one end of the garden preferably near to the garden exit, so that once your Zen Garden is set, you can then remove, recycle or get rid of any of the saved items you decide not to keep after all…  remember to take it slow and easy, don’t do anything in a rush.