Feng shui gardens

DISCOVER THE DESIGN ELEMENTS THAT WILL HELP YOU CREATE A PEACEFUL AND HARMONIOUS OUTDOOR OASIS

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You might have considered feng shui indoors, but did you know that you can also use it in your garden? Harnessing positive energy when planning a garden is easier than you might think.

'The idea behind feng shui is that of a peaceful and harmonious space, allowing the natural flow of energy, which influences all those who use the space,' says feng shui expert Inbaal Honigman.

'Feng shui is an ancient Chinese practice that aims to harmonise the natural energy within a space, arranging things to promote health, prosperity and good fortune,' explains Lucie Bradley, garden expert at Two Wests & Elliott. And with our gardens and outdoor spaces increasingly becoming an extension of our living spaces, it is only natural that we should make use of that knowledge outdoors.

'Incorporate the fire element into your garden by planting red and orange plants such as acers, dahlias and red petunias,' Morris Hankinson, director of Hopes Grove Nurseries says, adding that 'planting garden trees and shrubs, such as boxwood and birch, is a great way of symbolising the wood element.

'Yellow plants, such as yellow roses, tulips and sunflowers, in clay pots and with rocks or stones in your garden display also symbolise the earth element,' Morris says, with 'beautiful white-flowering varieties of peonies and hydrangeas, or pastel coloured plants such as lavender,' encapsulating the metal element.

Above and beyond planting these colours in your garden, you could also bring the elements together by incorporating items such as fire pits, metal lighting or wicker or rattan outdoor furniture.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR SURROUNDINGS

'One of the first steps to take when implementing feng shui, to create a sense of calm, is to declutter and fix any broken objects,' says Marlena Kaminska, designer and outdoor lighting expert at ValueLights.