Plant-spacing calculator
Work out how many bedding plants, bulbs or ground-cover plants fit into a bed on a regular grid, from its area and your chosen spacing.
Result
Plants needed
How to use this calculator
- Measure the length and width of the planting area.
- Set the spacing between plants — check the specific plant's recommended spacing.
- Read the number of plants that fit on a grid.
Assumptions
- Assumes a regular square grid layout, edge-to-edge from the border — a staggered/offset planting pattern fits slightly more plants into the same area.
Technical details: what the fields mean
- Length
length - The longest side of the planting area.
- Width
width - The other side of the planting area.
- Plant spacing
spacing - Distance between plants in both directions — check the plant label or seed packet for the recommended spacing.
Methodology
Plants per row = floor(length ÷ spacing) + 1. Rows = floor(width ÷ spacing) + 1. Total = plants per row × rows — a simple square grid layout.
Worked example
3m × 2m bed, 0.3m spacing
Inputs: length=3, width=2, spacing=0.3
Result: 77 plants (11 per row × 7 rows)
Practical guidance
- Always check the specific plant's own recommended spacing — this varies enormously between bedding plants, shrubs and ground cover.
- A staggered (offset) grid fits a few more plants into the same area than a plain square grid, if you want maximum density.
Common mistakes
- Planting too closely, which leads to overcrowding and competition for light, water and nutrients as plants mature.
- Using a mature shrub's eventual spread rather than its young/nursery-pot spacing, resulting in a bed that's overcrowded at first (which some gardeners do intentionally for quicker coverage).
FAQs
How many plants do I need for a 3m x 2m bed?
At 30cm spacing, 77 plants on a simple square grid — enter your own area and spacing above for an exact figure.
What plant spacing should I use?
Check the specific plant's label or seed packet — recommended spacing varies enormously by species and mature size.