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The essential concept of gardening is that if you arrange your garden for optimal use and tend it properly, it will nurture your soul. With this in mind, don't worry too much about "rules" exactly. The garden should speak of your own personal needs and tastes, so that it will be a place where you can feel at ease and commune with nature. Use the description below simply as guideposts to help you on your way to design your place of
greenery .
 Your goal is to balance the garden by placing plants and objects according to its reigning elements and colours. For example, it is a good idea to have some sort of water element, like a pond or fountain, near the entrance. Be careful not to contain the water in anything ceramic or made of terracotta, however, since the earth element neutralizes water. A metal or stone receptacle is much preferred. The colours associated with water, blue, and black, are also beneficial in this area. The "east" side of the garden, being associated with community and family, is an excellent place for a circular bench or round table for entertaining and conversation.
The "south" or back of the garden, is the place to show off. Bright red flowers and plants are an excellent choice for this area. The left or "western" section of the garden is right for children (including the child within every adult), so this is just the right spot for a swing set or swimming pool. This area is ruled by the metal element, so metal decorations and anything white or silver are a great choice for accents. The "northeast" area, to the left of the entrance, is a good place for a secluded area for solitary contemplation. The tricky part in all this is to keep it simple and attractive.
 One way to keep things simple is to think symbolically. A curving pathway might represent a stream, for example, incorporating a water element where there is no actual water. A birdbath shooting a column of water straight up might represent (surprisingly) wood, as the cylinder shape created by the water is reminiscent of a tree trunk. It is also possible to represent all the elements without any accessories at all. Each plant falls into a particular element category determined by its colour, shape and general nature. Daisies and sunflowers represent the fire element, for instance, and bushes represent wood. Plants like clematis fall into the earth category, pampas grass is more of a metal plant, and summer aster is thought to be aquatic. There are detailed guides available which classify each plant, but it's all fairly intuitive - don't be afraid to decide for yourself which plants can represent a particular element.
 There are certain plant qualities that are said to encourage various kinds of positive thoughts.. A spreading, soft-looking plant like ivy can soften the sharp corner of a building, neutralizing the "poison arrows" emanating from it. Try to have an actual water-related item in the garden. A pond is ideal, especially one with colourful fishes. And for energy to be able to flow freely, weeding and pruning are of the utmost importance. Weeds and overgrown plants in a garden are the equivalent of dust, unworn clothing and unnecessary paperwork indoors. And borders and fences are considered important for making sure that the appearance is neat and tidy. With so many different ideas being expressed at once, it is easy to end up with a sort of amusement park instead of a garden. Remember that simplicity and a lack of clutter are essential for a place of relaxation.
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