The spacing guidelines are there because the plant you buy is not fully grown, and they want to ensure there will be room for the plant to spread out. They are just a suggestion, and you can go closer to get a fuller look faster, but not too close because the plants do need some space to grow. With perennials, however, make sure to space them far enough apart so you don't get an overcrowded look when they reach mature size.

Ken,
When are you writing that self-help book? I so totally agree. I feel sorry for my new neighbors. They apparently haven't read your book. They were whining to me about how messy another neighbor's yard looks. These are the people who spent $5,000 having a semi truck blow mulch onto the hill behind and beneath the deck off their pool--an area no one can see. They'll never be satisfied with my style. I garden while I'm having fun and when I have time and in a way that make me happy. Happy gardening to all of you!

Martha

I will often plant twice as close as recommended,and remove every other plant as they grow to touch each other. I never waste a plant just move them to another location. When I plant a bed I always have more plants than I need, so I can fill in if needed. I make a practice of pinching stems to make fuller plants, always planting the pinched stems until I get tired of a particular plant. Al

you know how i started this insanity..

i would get so frustrated and pissed off at work.. i would come home and dig holes ... usually calling the process .. home improvement..

then one day i stopped at a nursery at lunch.. and it stuck me.. that i could plant things in the holes ...

so.. by the time i blew some cash [first stress reliever] .. and did some heavy digging labor [second stress reliever].. all my troubles were gone... plus.. i have a nice plant.. lol .. and could sit on the porch and sip a few adult beverages in the evening [third stress reliever].. enjoying my new.. filled.. hole

it all made me very happy ... but for the addiction part.. lol ...

go Zen mary.. whatever makes you happy ... and damn the torpedoes ... full speed ahead ..

ken

The spacing is just a guideline. When you see those pictures they are wide beds and never shown row by row and plant by plant. They consist of annuals and perennials all requiring different spacing. You put in a perennial that may say 12 inches but that plant may take 2 or 3 years to reach that dimention.

I agree with Ken--dig holes and put them in. If you don't like it change it the next year. If you do like it then keep it the next year. Try to stagger the plants. If you have 2 plants on 1 level plant one in the space between but in front of them on the next level.

Even experienced gardeners like in those photos you talk about are constantly moving plants around in the spring or fall. I do it in the spring because my plants survive our cold climate better that way. When you've been at it a while you will find your own way of doing things

I guess that placement comes more naturally to me having designed so many landscapes over the years. I find that it saves a great deal of time, money, and effort. The spacing recommendations are based on 'center to center' placement, Mary. And they are estimating the mature size of the plant. In my experience, the typical published guidelines are very conservative and I always give plants a little bit more room. You'll soon learn which plants are going to stay within bounds and which are going to go crazy.

So, if 12 inches is suggested, then you should plant each plant...even if little babies....at one foot centers. In a few weeks time, your annuals will probably be touching at the fingertips, so to speak, filling out the bed, but not overly crowded. Though the CENTER of the plants will still be 12 inches apart, your annuals will all have grown up and filled in. Does it make sense, now?

Shrub beds should be laid out that way, too. Do a little bit of research on the expected mature size and plan accordingly.

Yes, plenty of people plant twice as close as is recommended and dig them up when they begin to crowd. I had to do that when I was doing commercial work, but never again! I don't require instant gratification and I enjoy watching the plants develop over two or three weeks.

ken.

After stressing over couple of days on how to plan and plant my garden, i came across this thread. You made me smile, removed all the worries and I am a happy person here today. Reading you post is first stress reliever and rest will follow :)

you go girl ....lol

i forgot all about this post.. thx for the nice refresher ...

one of my favorite obscure songs of all time... led to me planting daisys.. for many years.. check out the link ...

ken

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BB8G0SFmJ1g

You know, ken .... I am really learning to like your way of saying things. That song got to me.

ZM

what did it take you.. 10 years .. lol

thx zen .... ken

" what did it take you.. 10 years ... "

About that. I am a .... slow learner.

Ha! I just stumbled across this thread, too. Good advice, Ken. I was getting a little stressed because as I re-drew the plans for the patio garden, I was having difficulty getting the measurements right on paper for where my existing perennials were actually planted. I wanted the map to be ABSOLUTELY ACCURATE, so that I would know precisely how much space I had next spring to plug in the new plants. What the heck?! Never did get it right. I think I'll do what I always do - start a bunch of plants and then go out next year and plug them in the ground willy-nilly - LOL!

- Alex

you go for it alex .... the beauty of plants.. is you can move them if you get it wrong ...

i dont think there are a lot of type A gardeners ... you have to channel your relaxed type B ...

also consider a nursery bed.. somewhere where you can nurture some babes ... that will later be moved into the greater garden ... especially with perennials that might need a year to beef up ...

ken

Ha! Already beat you to it, Ken - there are a couple of big nursery beds out there right now! Some of those babies will be going into their third year because I didn't have a place to put them. But, hey - they sure were pretty this season. :)

- alex