Feng Shui for the Garden

by Anita Adrain

When planning what flowers and shrubs to plant to enhance current beds or new ones; consider incorporating Feng Shui insights into your landscape design.

Feng Shui means wind and water, the tangible forces of nature affecting the intangible forces creating change. This ancient Eastern art recognizes the forces of Mother Nature within our environment; water, wood, metal, fire and earth and the presence or absence of these elements.

We instinctively and naturally respond to our environment either negatively or positively, so the goal is to create a positive environment. By recognizing the forces or elements of nature and working with them in balance, we can create an outer landscape that is both aesthetically pleasing as well as providing nourishment for the soul.The entrance to the property, be it a drive way or walkway is considered to be the "mouth of chi" Whether you are adding to an existing landscape or planting for the first time, you can use Feng Shui knowledge to guide you.

The first step is to map out or plot your entire property including your house and any other buildings residing there. Take a bird's eye view or perspective and fly over your property and then draw it on paper. Is your property pie shaped, rectangular or oddly shaped? A property that is square or rectangular is more optimum than one that is pie shaped or "L" shaped. When the property is "complete" it holds the energies of the nine guas or areas that are associated with individual aspects of your life. For example, if your bird's eye view drawing indicates an irregular shape, there will be direct correlation with aspects of your life. If the front of the property is narrower than the back, chances are the occupants may have challenges in their careers, self-development or attracting the right Helpful People in their life. Similarly if the back of the property is narrower than the front, the occupants may struggle financially or perhaps encounter difficulties with relationships.

When we encounter irregular land shapes in Feng Shui the remedy or cure is to enhance the property closest to the missing areas by visually or energetically enlarging them. This can easily be done by planting trees or shrubs or positioning flower beds to anchor or support the energy flow in these areas. Birdbaths, statuary or other similar enhancements can also be used to attract attention or energy to these areas. Of course each home and property is as individual as the occupants and optimum recommendations would be achieved through a Feng Shui evaluation.

The entrance to the property, be it a driveway or walkway is considered to be the "mouth of chi"; the area that the life force energy flows into your property. Similar to our physical being, the breath or life force energy circulates and sustains life in our bodies. Encouraging the Chi to circulate and breathe throughout your property will provide sustenance and life to that environment. You have heard of curb appeal? Attracting positive attention to the front or entrance of your property will encourage more positive Chi to flow into and around your property, therefore affecting positive change and results for the occupants. If there are large trees acting as guards in front of your home, obscuring the view from the curb, this may send a signal to potential visitors that you do not wish to be disturbed.

So when planting any trees or shrubs, in the front of your property it is crucial to plan for growth. Trees may look proportionate when you initially plant and in 5 or 10 years they could become a potential danger or hazard to the homes occupants. Planting shrubs or placing flower beds too close to a sidewalk will eventually grow and take over the space, discouraging or hindering positive Chi to flow.

I have evaluated many homes where the owners have not planned for future growth and the affects on the home occupants have been less than desirable. What's going on IN your life is in direct correlation to what's happening on the OUT side.One client had trees that obscured the front entrance and made a perfect shelter for thieves to enter the home undetected by neighbors, even though the home was positioned on a visible corner lot. Another client had a hedge grow so close to the driveway that it was inconvenient and frustrating to exit the vehicle on the passenger's side, a branch in the face is not a pleasant way to say "Welcome to my home!" Both of these examples represent the negative impact or negative Chi that poor planting and planning can have a negative result to the home occupants.

Have you ever driven by someone's home where the trees were overgrown, flower beds consumed by weeds, a broken fence or gate, an old vehicle or any other distraught item? Your immediate response is negative, making you feel uncomfortable sending those negative vibes directly to the unsuspecting home occupants. Similarly we have all driven past a home where the landscape is well cared for and we immediately respond positively. When you encourage positive energy to enter the front of your property you will also be attracting positive energy to flow into your personal life. The best way to gauge if you have positive energy flowing into your life is to look at your results. Your results are a direct indicator that your "Inner World" is connected to your "Outer World". What's going on IN your life is in direct correlation to what's happening on the OUT side.

Mother Nature is also a great indicator as to if you are attracting positive or negative (energy) Chi. Do animals, birds and insects visit your landscape environment regularly? Do your plants and trees flourish or do they grow sparsely or not at all? Attract natural energy to flow into your life and landscape by choosing plants, shrubs and trees that are attractive in color, shape and size. Choose a variety to keep things looking "lively" and attractive through as many seasons as possible and very importantly plant for future growth.

The rear and sides of your property are just as important as the front. A hedge or row of trees going to the back of the property can act as support and protect the occupants from forces of nature, as well as adding privacy. Fences surrounding a property send a clear message of your ownership and boundaries. If they are too high the message that is perceived from the outside looking in is; do not disturb, stay away, we are not friendly. This is a perfect example of how planning your plantings can affect you either positively or negatively.If a fence or hedge is small or insignificant in comparison to the property, it may send the opposite message. You are welcome anytime, please make yourself at home, what's mine is yours, etc. You can see by both of these extreme examples how the perceived property parameters may have a direct affect on the occupant's lives. The goal then is balance, not too tall, not too short but just right. (Kind of like "The Three Bears") Also, when planning the landscape for the rear or back of the property consider the activities that are most enjoyed by you and your family.

Another important area to consider when planning your landscape is the "VIEW" from the eyes of the home, the windows. What do you see when you look out your bedroom window? Is there a large tree that shades the room completely? What about those beautiful birds that come to sing and eat the berries from your tree at 5 a.m. seven days a week? This is a perfect example of how planning your plantings can affect you either positively or negatively. If the same tree were planted from the view of the living room, birds singing and feeding would give the occupants a positive feeling. What would you like to see from your kitchen window?
Consider all the rooms inside your home with windows that look to the outside to gain a better perspective before enhancing your landscape and then plan according to your personal likes.

There is definitely a lot more knowledge and insight to be gained by applying Feng Shui principles to your landscape. I have only touched on a few basics and given you a glimpse of the possibilities. You can gain further insight into the natural energies of your landscape by having a personal Feng Shui evaluation or by reading books like Gill Hale's "The Feng Shui Garden". I also recommend that you consult with a professional horticulturalist or gain information from publications when choosing flora and fauna for your outdoor environment. Give special attention to the colors, shapes, smells and textures that make your heart sing and the results will be positive.

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