The Miyawaki Method: Ecology, Stratification, and Personal Discoveries

Discovering the Miyawaki Method

When I was entrusted with supervising a garden inspired by the Miyawaki method, I felt the need to truly understand the foundations of this Japanese botanist’s approach. Developed in the 1970s, his method is based on phytosociology: observing natural plant communities and recreating miniature ecosystems. Every planting begins with a careful study of the site and its potential species, structuring forests with trees, shrubs, undergrowth, and groundcovers. The goal is not to plant isolated trees, but to reconstruct a living, biodiverse, multi-layered system.

Principles, Potential, and Limits

One of the most well-known aspects is high density: about three plants per square meter, including species from different layers. This encourages competition and accelerates growth, provided that the soil is properly prepared, species are compatible, and the plants receive intensive care during the first years. Miyawaki contrasted his method with two common approaches: productive monocultures, efficient but fragile and poor in biodiversity; and ornamental gardens, beautiful but ecologically weak.

What struck me most is the centrality of spontaneous coexistence among plants. Ecological compatibility, not just botanical, is the key principle: it is not enough for a species to be native; it must also be able to collaborate, resist, and adapt alongside others within the same system. This idea resonates deeply with my personal gardening philosophy: working with nature, not against it, fostering balanced relationships—even within the artificial contexts of a garden.

However, studying the method also led me to think critically. Some studies suggest that after about ten years, competition among plants can become so intense that mortality rises, and in some cases, initial biodiversity may even decrease. As with any approach, awareness, context, and adaptation are essential.

From Method to Adaptation

In the garden I was overseeing (learn more), it was clear from the start that replicating the method exactly would be impossible: the trees provided were already grown, often large, and time was limited. My goal then became something else: to translate the principles of the method into an adapted, communicable version—one that could intrigue visitors and perhaps inspire them to explore it further.

And that is exactly what happened.