How Many Plants Do I Need? Plant Spacing Chart per 100 Square Feet
Part of the project planner: Planning a new lawn and garden beds.
A 100 sq ft bed takes 100 plants at 12 inch spacing in a square grid, and about 116 if you stagger them. The number is the area divided by the area per plant (the spacing squared), and a staggered layout fits more, since each plant takes 0.866 of the space. The plant spacing calculator works it out for your bed and spacing.
Plants per 100 square feet
| Spacing | Square grid | Staggered (triangular) |
|---|---|---|
| 6 inches | 400 | 462 |
| 8 inches | 225 | 260 |
| 12 inches | 100 | 116 |
| 18 inches | 45 | 52 |
| 24 inches | 25 | 29 |
| 36 inches | 12 | 13 |
Plants for common beds
At 12 inch spacing with 5% extra:
| Bed | Area | Square grid | Staggered |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 × 10 ft | 100 sq ft | 105 | 122 |
| 4 × 12 ft | 48 sq ft | 51 | 59 |
| 10 × 20 ft | 200 sq ft | 210 | 243 |
| 20 × 20 ft | 400 sq ft | 420 | 485 |
Spacing by kind of plant
| Plants | Typical spacing | Plants per 100 sq ft (grid) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual flowers and bedding plants | 6 to 12 in | 400 to 100 |
| Ground covers and groundcover perennials | 8 to 12 in | 225 to 100 |
| Most perennials | 12 to 24 in | 100 to 25 |
| Hostas and larger perennials | 18 to 36 in | 45 to 12 |
| Small shrubs | 24 to 36 in | 25 to 12 |
| Large shrubs | 36 to 72 in | 12 to 3 |
These are typical: read the plant tag for its mature width and use that.
How to plant a bed
- Prepare the soil with compost, and mark the layout with string or flags.
- Set the plants out in their pots before you dig, and adjust the spacing by eye.
- Plant at the same depth as in the pot, firm the soil, and water well.
- Mulch 2 to 3 inches deep, but keep it off the stems. See the mulch calculator.
- Water regularly in the first season, until the plants are established.
Frequently asked questions
How many plants do I need for a flower bed?
Divide the area of the bed by the area each plant needs. At 12 inch spacing, a 100 sq ft bed takes 100 plants in a grid, or about 116 if they are staggered.
What is staggered spacing?
Plants set in a triangular pattern (each row offset from the one before). It fits about 15% more plants into the same space than a square grid, and looks more natural.
How far apart should I plant perennials?
Most perennials are planted 12 to 24 inches apart. Check the tag, since the mature width of the plant sets the spacing.
How many plants for a 10 × 10 bed?
105 plants at 12 inches in a grid (with 5% extra), or 122 staggered.
Should I plant closer for a fuller bed?
Closer spacing gives a full bed sooner, but plants crowd each other and need dividing earlier, and cost more. Follow the mature width on the tag for most plants.
More guides
Tools & materials for this project
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Estimates only. Quantities depend on your materials, site and supplier. Confirm important numbers before you order, and follow local building codes for anything structural.