Building a sandbox in our backyard for dual purposes
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You probably expect the kids to make some nice sand castles and cute little shapes with plasticky little tools. Do not count on it. If you have boys over 4yo, they are going to want to dig holes! Do big things. Turn into evil rabbits. Expect them to come in with excited faces and ask: Dad, can we get the shovel in the garage? They have builders genes, the same that make you want to build a Japanese garden.
So, maybe the pond preformed shapes from Lowes are good, since they have solid bottoms and a deeper center... but this makes the border quite high above ground???? Might not look as nice. It could be a question of esthetic agains functionality for the kids. Otherwise, if you go homemade, this is also a good reason to use a concrete board underneath. The kids will dig and tear thru the plastic sheets on the 4th day, and reach the dirt/mud, that will mix with the sand. And with all the sand on top, it is hard to replace plastic sheets...
umm because ONLY the top side of the sand pile gets weathered. sand + combing goes together. unless youre making a lazy***** american-japanese garden of course, it wont be maintenance free
We are trying to be as authentic as possible, but given our limited amount of space, we will not have all the features that a normal Japanese garden would have. I will also not have any water features since I don't want to attract mosquitos. That is why we are using the river made of rock to bring in the essence of water w/o the risks. We will also be utilizing trees/shrubs that can be found in Japan, junipers, holly sky pencils, cherry blossoms, etc.... We will also be using a bridge, lantern, boulders, and other inanimate objects. Then we will use Mondo grass edging and try and create some spaces that are empty to contrast the fullness of other areas. Again, this is not a huge area, maybe 50' x 30' at most....plus some angles and asymmetry for around a 1000 sq/ft space. It will not be maintenance free for sure, but hopefully it's not overwhelming. We will not be doing any bamboo due to the growth issues unless we plant a pot and keep the bamboo in check because that stuff grows like weeds.
You probably expect the kids to make some nice sand castles and cute little shapes with plasticky little tools. Do not count on it. If you have boys over 4yo, they are going to want to dig holes! Do big things. Turn into evil rabbits. Expect them to come in with excited faces and ask: Dad, can we get the shovel in the garage? They have builders genes, the same that make you want to build a Japanese garden.
So, maybe the pond preformed shapes from Lowes are good, since they have solid bottoms and a deeper center... but this makes the border quite high above ground???? Might not look as nice. It could be a question of esthetic agains functionality for the kids. Otherwise, if you go homemade, this is also a good reason to use a concrete board underneath. The kids will dig and tear thru the plastic sheets on the 4th day, and reach the dirt/mud, that will mix with the sand. And with all the sand on top, it is hard to replace plastic sheets...
wow. kids today? LOL. so what do you do if they mix a bucket load of dirt and mulch from some where into the sand??
the plastic sheeting is not for a one piece solid seal. its supposed to let water out. so in your extreme scenario you just need to cover the ficticious hole with the appropriate sized plactic sheet.
I dont know anyone that would just use a concrete board like that. I dont even think concrete boards are designed to be used exposed to the elements without tiles/stonework. now laid underground they will crack with the weight and by being soaked all the time. another is your going to need more to cut, bury and dispose of concrete board material. realistically, you should consider the possiblity of moving a sandbox (or whatever).
if you do have crazy kids and expect an excavation hitting bottom in the future then use a vinyl tubliner thing. its still more appropriate that concrete board
We are trying to be as authentic as possible, but given our limited amount of space, we will not have all the features that a normal Japanese garden would have. I will also not have any water features since I don't want to attract mosquitos. That is why we are using the river made of rock to bring in the essence of water w/o the risks. We will also be utilizing trees/shrubs that can be found in Japan, junipers, holly sky pencils, cherry blossoms, etc.... We will also be using a bridge, lantern, boulders, and other inanimate objects. Then we will use Mondo grass edging and try and create some spaces that are empty to contrast the fullness of other areas. Again, this is not a huge area, maybe 50' x 30' at most....plus some angles and asymmetry for around a 1000 sq/ft space. It will not be maintenance free for sure, but hopefully it's not overwhelming. We will not be doing any bamboo due to the growth issues unless we plant a pot and keep the bamboo in check because that stuff grows like weeds.
well that is the basic idea. theres really no "authentic" japanese garden. a typical japanese garden to me is very 'mossy' and woody. there is no sandbox in a japanese garden - in reality its more of a rock garden. the stuff we think are sand are actually small crushed lava rocks. I have 5 books on it... gifts from in-laws in japan
i have bamboo. the formed pond thing - thats typically used to control bamboo growth. bamboo does give an "authentic" messiness LOL. its required for us because of that ribbon hanging festival thing
I am going for the look of the rock garden with the dual function as sand instead. I lived in Japan for 8 years and have seen more than a few gardens. I just want to have something in the backyard that we can watch grow and that my family and I can enjoy. I am trying to be as true to the art as possible, but taking my own creative freedoms when necessary to serve my needs. I simply don't have much experience with sand boxes, especially in Houston with the high levels of rain and bugs.
hey, you might want to google images for 'japanese wisteria'. I think these gardens are more rewarding. you can also combine it with a rock garden to give it a bit more life. i have them and i have my fingerscrossed it will bloom this May. if it does I'm making the pergola/trellis thing
We will be doing a pergola on our back porch about 20' from the garden and creating a stone pathway from our patio to the garden area to try and bring the pergola into the effect. Wisteria are great looking but they can take forever to bloom. Not sure if I have the patience for that or not. Aren't they pretty aggressive as well? I would hate to buy something that takes over an entire area and doesn't even bloom itself.
I did not mean live bamboos. But a cover for the sandbox made of woven bamboo sticks, or a thick garden material, like they use for patio furniture, with a bamboo design on it. Both are light enough to be also used as a canopy, or large umbrella.
I do not think that bamboo do resist cold very well. And even in TX, a single hard freeze will kill many plants.
I did not mean live bamboos. But a cover for the sandbox made of woven bamboo sticks, or a thick garden material, like they use for patio furniture, with a bamboo design on it. Both are light enough to be also used as a canopy, or large umbrella.
I do not think that bamboo do resist cold very well. And even in TX, a single hard freeze will kill many plants.
the wooven bamboo stick - theyre held together by metal wires and they rust and break. mold also like dead bamboo you dont want to be touching that when its been outside for too long.
my live golden bambo survived this last winter. its still havent woken up tho. tomorrow i'm leaf blowing it to reduce the sad look
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