Zinnia &Cosmos spacing

10 years ago

How important is it to follow plant spacing instructions? I want more Zinnias than my small 8 X 2.5 garden will allow per spacing directions. Is it a bad idea to space them closer?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

dbarron
10 years ago
Well, when they're small the bed will look more full, but as they reach full size, they'll compete massively and not do nearly as well...and not look very well either.

You could compromise and plant more..then pull them as they start to get crowded.
Sandra Matula thanked dbarron
Sandra Matula
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you. I think I will try it!
Related Professionals
Mankato Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Scranton Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Santa Maria Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Toronto Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Frederick Landscape Contractors · Hannibal Landscape Contractors · Dallas Landscape Contractors · Cedar Rapids Landscape Contractors · Nashua Landscape Contractors · Victoria Landscape Contractors · Sedalia Architects & Building Designers · Oxford Architects & Building Designers · Alexandria Architects & Building Designers · Cleveland Architects & Building Designers · Lewiston Architects & Building Designers
dbarron
10 years ago
Just be ruthless and pull early...don't let them turn into a crowded weak mass before you start pulling spares.
Sandra Matula thanked dbarron
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
its a matter of your soil ... and how many it can handle.. as well as how well you can keep that soil watered ..

also.. over planting can lead to disease problems... like powdery mildew ... becasue of lack of air movement inside the mass ....

but please ... just GO FOR IT .... if you plant too many ... you will know better next year ...

it would also depend on the grown plant size [[e.g. if mini.. dwarf.. etc] ... it should be on the pack ... if each plant is 12 inches wide ... then you should plant them about 12 inches apart ... but you could probably squeak in 8 inches.. but if you start pushing them 6 inches apart ... then stuff might happen.. or it wont ...

one way to do it ... is to plant the first two feet of your 8 feet... properly ... then the next two feet, closer togfether ... ... then closer.. then closer ...

by the end of the season .. you will see.. with your own eyes... how it all worked out ...

there was no WWW when i started .. and i wasnt running to the library every time i didnt know ... so i experimented.. as above ... and thats how i learned .. and you know what... i still remember the results of my experience.. but i couldnt recall what i read on the web last week ... [and not because i am old and mind feable.. lol]... its just because i stuck my hands in mother earth.. and did it myself ...

ken
Sandra Matula thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
Sandra Matula
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks Ken. I agree with the not remembering from the web and remembering when I get my hands in the dirt. I've researched so much from last April til now and I can only tell you things that I've experienced through trial and error...lots of error. Still new to gardening but loving almost every minute of it.