China garden using feng shui, courtesy Flick user themonnie
There are a number of ways you can design and lay out your lawn and garden. Maybe you need to account for the layout of your property and the rise and fall of your land in your designs. Maybe you’ve got free range with no natural obstacles. There may be local laws or Association rules to take into consideration.
What is Feng Shui?
Feng shui is defined as a philosophical system of harmonizing man-made features with the surrounding environment. In past times, this could include simply positioning the entrance of a house so it was protected from the wind using the surrounding environment.
The key to feng shui is qi, also known as life-force or energy. Feng shui is based around the flow of qi through an environment. There is also the idea of polarity, as highlighted by the yin and yang theory. With yin and yang, objects should be aligned with the yin-yang force fields, according to feng shui.
Is a Feng Shui Garden Right for You?
A full feng shui garden can be a bit of an undertaking, particularly if your lawn and garden is already completed. A garden that fits into the philosophy will incorporate the five elements:
- Earth – Soil and rocks.
- Wood – Benches, trees, planters.
- Fire – Lights, fire pits.
- Water – Water features such as ponds, waterfalls, and bird baths.
- Metal – Fixtures, including benches, planters, and more.
Feng shui will incorporate these elements into a design that is clean and uncluttered – clutter will block and congest the flow of qi.
Incorporating Feng Shui on a Smaller Scale
There’s plenty that you can do to incorporate the idea of feng shui into an existing design without doing a full overhaul of your property. In fact, it’s likely you already have, without knowing it. Some feng shui ideas fit right in with simple, common sense ideas.
- Don’t Block Your Front Door – In feng shui, a front door that is blocked off from vision can stop the flow of energy. In terms of common sense, a door that is not visible from the street can be a safety hazard. Plus, you can’t show off the fun colors of your door.
- No Water Feature in your Lawn – In feng shui, it means you are lacking one of the five elements. It also means you don’t have a birdbath for wildlife, a pond for fish, or a calming waterfall.
- No Benches – Again, in feng shui, it can lead to the lack of an element. It also means you don’t have anywhere permanent to sit and read a book.
- No Set Paths – In feng shui, this could lead to the jumbling of energy, disrupting the flow. It also means you’ll be compacting the sod and wearing ruts in your lawn.
Feng shui is sometimes looked at as a scam, a black art, or just plain weird. In fact, it’s really just a different way of thinking that preaches working with the environment around you, incorporating common sense, and being conscious of your effects on the local ecosystem. We wouldn’t recommend going overboard and paying for feng shui “experts” who will claim to help align your property for perfection. However, there’s plenty that can be said for using pieces of the philosophy to make your lawn and garden more enjoyable and effective.
