Plant Spacing Calculator
Enter the size of the bed and the spacing on the plant label. You get the number of plants, rows and plants per row, in a square grid or a staggered pattern.
This is an estimate. Always follow the spacing on the plant label.
Worked examples
A border
3 m long, 1 m wide, 30 cm spacing, square grid
30 plants in 3 rows of 10
The staggered layout gives 29 plants with rows 26 cm apart.
About Plant Spacing Calculator
A plant spacing calculator counts how many plants fit in a bed. Enter the length and width of the bed and the spacing on the plant label, and it lays out the plants row by row. You get the number of plants, the number of rows, how many are in each row and how many go in each square metre.
Choose a square grid, where plants sit in straight rows, or a staggered layout, where every other row is shifted along by half a space. The rows of a staggered layout can sit closer together, about 87% of the spacing, so you fit in more plants and the ground is covered sooner. The gap at the edge of the bed is half the spacing unless you set it. For a hedge, set the width to zero and the plants go in a single line.
How to use Plant Spacing Calculator
- Enter the length and width of the bed.
- Enter the spacing from the plant label and the gap from the edge if you want one.
- Choose a square or a staggered layout.
- Read the number of plants and rows.
Common uses
- Planting a border
- Setting out a hedge
- Filling a bed with bedding plants
- Ordering bulbs or plug plants
Frequently asked questions
How many plants in a 3 m by 1 m bed at 30 cm?
In a square grid with a 15 cm edge gap you get 10 plants in each of 3 rows, so 30 plants. A staggered layout gives 29, because the offset rows hold one fewer, but it fits the plants a little closer together.
What does plant spacing mean?
It is the distance from the centre of one plant to the centre of the next, which is usually the width of the mature plant. The spacing is printed on the plant label.
Why stagger the plants?
A staggered pattern covers the ground more evenly and fills in faster than a square grid at the same spacing, which helps to suppress weeds.
How many plants for a hedge?
Set the width to zero. A 6 m hedge at 50 cm with no edge gap has 13 plants. Plant a double row for a thicker hedge.
Can I plant closer than the label says?
You can for a quicker effect, but the plants will compete and may need thinning later. Closer spacing is common for annuals and bedding.