The last thing you want in your peaceful, serene, tranquil garden is a lot of fighting, bickering, jabbing and bullying – which is exactly what you’ll get if plants and shrubs are placed too close together! When spring arrives, along with the urge to fill in all the bare brown with vibrant color and texture, be aware that the newcomers to your garden, especially when filling in with perennials and existing shrubs, need room to grow and spread. There are easy “rules of thumb” to consider when choosing how far apart to set your plants. Just make certain you are using your green thumb when choosing spacing…
- Consider the mature size of the plant or shrub, not its size in the pot you just purchased.
- The measurement of its mature width is key. Measuring from its center, imagine a circle of that diameter of space surrounding it. For example, an azalea that will grow to 5 feet tall and 3 feet wide requires a circle of 3 feet of space surrounding it.
- If the plant label provides mature height but not width, estimate using its height. For example, a plant or shrub that is said to grow 7 to 8 feet tall would require a circle of 5 feet. A plant whose mature height is 2 to 5 feet would need at least a circle of space of at least 3 feet.
- When placing new plants or shrubs next to existing or next to a different kind of plant or shrub, take the average of their mature width. For example, if planting a lilac that will grow to 5 feet wide next to a hydrangea that will spread to 3 feet, allow the lilac 4 feet of space from the hydrangea.
- Include a yard stick or tape measure with your gardening tools in order to determine the best distance between plants. Then set out the plants in their pots so that you can see how they fit together and with any existing plants or shrubs.
- Patience is a virtue! Young shrubs may take a few years to fill in to their mature size. You can always fill in undesirable bare spots with annuals, which are temporary space fillers.
- If you are placing hedges along a property line or to create a screen, place them 3 to 5 feet apart.
- Trees that are being planted in a line should be placed 8 to 10 feet apart for deciduous trees (trees that drop their leaves in the fall) and 10 feet apart for evergreens.
- Ground covers, often used to minimize soil erosion, tend to be fast growers, and can be placed 12 inches apart.
The reasoning behind all of the care you give spacing will pay off in the end. When planted too close together, plants will fight each other for sunshine, soil nutrients, water and air circulation. Plants that are too close are more prone to disease, smaller mature growth and fewer blooms. If one plant is dominant, its growth may cause the smaller plant to wither and die, due to lack of sunshine and suitable amounts of water. Think of your garden as a playground for plants: crowded conditions encourage arguments to break out; while suitable space provides for productive play!