How Far Apart Should I Plant My Plants? (The Biggest Mistake Almost Everyone Makes)
Why Plant Spacing Matters More Than You Think
Most people make one of two mistakes.
They plant everything too close together.
Or...
They plant everything too far apart.
The funny thing is...
Both mistakes usually happen for exactly the same reason.
They're trying to imagine what the plant looks like today...
Instead of what it will look like in three years.
Tiny Plants Become Big Plants
Tube stock can be deceptive.
That little 50mm pot doesn't look capable of much.
But plants don't stay in 50mm pots.
That tiny Tanika® Lomandra can eventually become a beautiful flowing clump.
A small Carissa Desert Star™ can become a dense evergreen shrub.
A little Rhaphiolepis Snow Maiden can grow into a flowering hedge.
If you plant them based on today's size...
You'll almost always end up overcrowding the garden.
Why Overcrowding Causes Problems
Plants don't like competing.
When they're planted too closely together they compete for:
- Sunlight
- Water
- Nutrients
- Airflow
Eventually...
Growth slows.
Humidity builds.
Disease becomes more common.
Pruning becomes constant.
Ironically...
People often plant closely because they want a fuller garden.
A few years later...
They're removing half the plants.
Planting Too Far Apart Isn't Great Either
We've all seen it.
A row of tiny hedge plants spaced metres apart.
For years...
You can still see the fence.
The garden feels unfinished.
We understand why people do it.
They're trying to save money.
But sometimes planting one extra shrub now saves years of disappointment.
Every Plant Has A Natural Shape
This is something we always encourage customers to think about.
Don't ask,
"How big is it today?"
Ask,
"How big does it want to become?"
Plants naturally tell us how much space they need.
We just have to trust them.
A Few General Spacing Ideas
Rather than exact measurements (always check the individual product page), think about the job each plant is doing.
For hedges, plants are usually spaced closer together so they knit into a solid screen.
For feature shrubs, allow room for their natural shape to develop.
For ornamental grasses, spacing depends on whether you want an instant effect or are happy to let them fill out over time.
For groundcovers, closer spacing gives faster coverage, while wider spacing is more economical if you're willing to wait.
That's Why Every Product Page Includes Planting Rates
One of the questions we answer most often is:
"How many plants do I need?"
That's exactly why we include planting rates on our product pages.
It takes the guesswork out of planning and helps you order the right quantity the first time.
Before You Plant...
Stand back.
Imagine the garden three years from now.
Not next weekend.
Ask yourself:
Will these plants have room to breathe?
Will they still show off their natural shape?
Will they eventually join together the way I want them to?
A little planning now saves a lot of pruning later.
Final Thoughts
One of the hardest things about gardening...
Is planting what looks like "empty space."
But that's not empty.
It's tomorrow's garden.
Every beautiful landscape begins with someone leaving enough room for plants to become what they were always meant to be.