Plant Spacing When Landscaping

Plant Size

• The label on the nursery-grown plant tells you the mature size of the plant, and how far apart to plant. When massing plants, measure from center to center, at half the radius of the size at maturity, and half the radius of the adjacent plant. If you want the plants to stand out individually, add extra, by about one-third, to the spacing. If tighter massing is desired, cut the distance in half. This is useful for suppressing weeds -- especially suitable for annuals and vegetables.

Planting Beds

• Plan the size of the bed according to the size of plants. Leave room for growth at critical areas, such as walkways or lawns, so that they're not damaged. Take care not to plant where the mature size will screen important features, such as the front door. Many foundation plantings become overgrown to the point where they obstruct views and solar exposure from windows. They're often misshapen as a result of inadequate spacing.

Creating Space With Plants

• Plants can be used architecturally in the landscape, by enclosing spaces or screening or framing views. They are also useful for buffering noise. Plant in masses for screens or buffers, or for defining the boundaries of a space, so that the plants join together at maturity. Trees are spaced according to canopy size. Large trees will leave views open below their canopy, but can provide a ceiling effect overhead. They're dominant elements in the landscape, but help create human scale for built environments.

Accents

• Plants that are distinctive by being larger or taller than the plants around them are visual accents. Smaller plants are accents when they're the largest in a group. Plants with forms that vary from the standard round shape, such as columnar, pyramidal and picturesque, are also seen as accents. Ornamental trees, with outstanding color and form, can be located strategically, to attract the eye or mark an entrance, or where they can be seen from many viewpoints.