How many plants per meter do you need?

A common question when it comes to gardening is how many plants are needed per meter. It’s difficult to give a definitive answer to this, because it depends on various factors: for example, the size of the plants when you buy them, their growth rate, your budget, and how quickly you want to fill the flower bed.

Of course, you can choose to plant small plants and take their eventual mature size into account from the start. But it can take (many) years for them to reach that size, and until then, you’ll be looking at a lot of bare soil in the border…

What is a good planting distance?

To help you enjoy a beautiful, full border as quickly as possible, we’ve provided guidelines on the number of plants to use when planting a border or planting strip. This is also known as the proper planting distance. Here, we provide the planting spacing for perennials, groundcovers, ornamental grasses, shrubs, and hedge plants.

How many perennials per meter?

Perennials can sometimes grow quite large, but it usually takes a few years for them to spread out and expand. However, they usually reach their full height in the first year and will even produce some flowers if you plant them in time.

We recommend planting about 5–9 perennials per meter, depending on the size you choose. For a small P9 size, we would recommend 7–9 plants per square meter for most perennials. For a slightly larger size (e.g., C1.5 or C2), we recommend about 4–5 plants per square meter.

Three to five perennials per linear meter are sufficient.

Not sure which pot size to choose? Check out this handy guide to all pot sizes

How many groundcover plants per meter?

Groundcover plants are ideal for covering bare soil and limiting weed growth. They also quickly give your garden a beautiful green appearance.

With groundcover plants, it’s important to ensure the ground is evenly covered as quickly as possible. We recommend planting about 7–12 groundcover plants per meter, depending on the size you choose. For small P9-sized groundcover plants, we would recommend 9–12 plants per square meter. For slightly larger sizes (e.g., C1.5 or C2), we recommend 5–7 plants per square meter.

Three to five groundcover plants per linear meter are sufficient.

How many ornamental grasses per meter?

Ornamental grasses are fantastic plants for your flower bed. They add both structure and movement and pair beautifully with perennials and shrubs. Ornamental grasses come in all shapes and sizes, so the number per meter may vary.

We recommend planting about 5–9 ornamental grasses per meter, depending on the size you choose. For a small P9 size, we would recommend 7–9 ornamental grasses per square meter. For a slightly larger size (e.g., C1.5 or C2), we recommend 4–5 plants per square meter.

Three to five ornamental grasses per linear meter are sufficient.

How many shrubs should you plant per meter?

Shrubs add structure to your border. They can be evergreen or deciduous. Shrubs are hardy, and some bloom for a very long time! The (ultimate) size of shrubs can vary considerably.

We recommend planting about 1–4 shrubs per meter, depending on the size you choose. For small or compact shrubs, we recommend 3–4 plants per square meter. For larger shrubs, we recommend 1–2 plants per square meter.

One to three shrubs per linear meter are sufficient.

How many hedge plants per meter?

When it comes to hedge plants and hedges, precision is key. Of course, you want a beautiful, full, and dense hedge as quickly as possible. You can usually count on about 4–5 plants per linear meter of hedge. Check out our previous blog post for a complete overview of planting distances for hedge plants, covering all spacing requirements, quantities, and types of hedges.