Know how many plants to bring home
Start with one clear planting bed. Enter its measurements and the spacing on your chosen plant’s label to see a simple grid, then take the notes to your nursery or into a garden makeover.
Size your planting bed
Use the centre-to-centre spacing for your chosen plant. In metres, 50 cm is 0.5; in feet, 18 inches is 1.5.
Add a few site notes
24 planting positions
4 rows × 6 plants · 6 m²
Each dot is a plant centre. This grid leaves at least half the selected spacing at each edge. It does not identify plants or infer measurements from a photo.
Choose plants for your climate, sunlight and soil before buying. The count uses your spacing, not a recommendation for a particular species.
Measure the space that is actually available
Leave paths, existing trees and features outside the rectangle. For an L-shaped bed, calculate two separate areas. This tool uses a regular grid with one spacing value; it does not optimise a mixed planting scheme.
Give your planting time to grow
Use the eventual spread of the variety as a starting point, rather than the size of the pot. A nursery can confirm the right distance for your planting goal. The RHS perennial planting guide explains how spread affects spacing.