Plant and Flower Calculator

Rectangular patterns place plants in straight rows and columns, creating a grid-like appearance. Triangular patterns stagger alternating rows, allowing plants to fit more efficiently and often requiring fewer plants for the same coverage area. See also our Fence Post Spacing Calculator.

Plant spacing depends on the mature size of your plants. Check the plant tag or nursery recommendations for the suggested spacing. Closer spacing fills in faster but costs more, while wider spacing is more economical but takes longer to achieve full coverage.

This calculator uses center-to-center spacing, which is the standard measurement in landscaping. It measures from the center of one plant to the center of the next plant, providing more accurate plant counts than edge-to-edge measurements.

This calculator assumes uniform spacing for one plant type. If mixing different plants with varying spacing requirements, calculate each type separately and adjust the total bed area proportionally for each plant variety. You might also find our Vinyl Fence Calculator useful.

It's recommended to order 5-10% more plants than calculated to account for plant loss, irregular bed shapes, or spacing adjustments during planting. This ensures you have enough plants to complete your project.

The calculator supports inches, feet, yards, meters, and centimeters. You can mix units - for example, measure bed dimensions in feet and plant spacing in inches, which is common in landscaping.

The calculator assumes plants are placed right to the bed edges. If you want to maintain a border space, reduce your bed dimensions by twice the border width before calculating (e.g., subtract 1 foot from length and width for a 6-inch border).

Triangular patterns are more efficient and natural-looking, requiring fewer plants while providing good coverage. Rectangular patterns are easier to install and maintain, making them better for formal gardens or when using a grid irrigation system.