How many plants do I need for 1,000 square feet?
Filling 1,000 square feet with plants on 12 inch centers takes 1,000 plants in a square grid or 1,155 in staggered rows. At 18 inches it is 445 plants; at 8 inches for a dense ground cover, 2,250; at 36 inches for shrubs, 112. Spacing is the mature width on the plant tag, not the pot size.
Plants for 1,000 square feet by spacing
| Spacing and typical plants | Square grid | Staggered rows | Cost at $5 each (grid) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 in: lettuce, bulbs | 4,000 | 4,619 | $20,000 |
| 8 in: pachysandra, annuals | 2,250 | 2,599 | $11,250 |
| 12 in: vinca, liriope, sedum | 1,000 | 1,155 | $5,000 |
| 18 in: hostas, daylilies, creeping phlox | 445 | 514 | $2,225 |
| 24 in: coneflower, small shrubs | 250 | 289 | $1,250 |
| 36 in: medium shrubs | 112 | 129 | $560 |
For 1,000 square feet of bed. Staggered (triangular) rows fit about 15 percent more plants in the same area and close the canopy sooner.
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Planning and buying for 1,000 square feet
At $4 to $8 per plant in 4 in pots, 1,000 plants on 12 in centers cost $4,000 to $8,000; the same bed at 18 in spacing with 445 plants is $1,780 to $3,560 and fills in a season later. Flats of 18 or 32 plugs bring ground covers down to $1 to $2 each, so 2,250 plugs at 8 in spacing is about $2,250 to $4,500. Buy 5 percent extra for losses the first month. Prepare the bed with 2 to 3 in of compost (7.7 cubic yards for this area) and finish with 2 in of mulch, about 84 bags of 2 cubic feet; the mulch calculator has the full breakdown.
Layout for a 1,000 square foot bed
- Set the first row half a spacing in from the edge so mature plants do not spill over the lawn or walk.
- For staggered rows, offset every other row by half the spacing and bring the rows 13 percent closer together.
- Mix spacings: shrubs at 36 in at the back, perennials at 18 in in the middle, and ground cover at 8 to 12 in at the front edge.
- Mark the grid with a tape and flour or spray chalk before you dig; it is much faster than measuring each hole.
- Water deeply the day of planting and every two or three days for the first month.
Common questions
How many plants for 1,000 square feet at 12 inches apart?
1,000 plants in a square grid, since each plant occupies one square foot, or 1,155 in staggered rows. At 10 in spacing it is about 1,440.
How many plants for 1,000 square feet at 18 inches apart?
445 plants in a grid or 514 staggered. Each plant at 18 in spacing covers 2.25 square feet.
How much ground cover for 1,000 square feet?
2,250 plants at 8 in spacing for a fast fill, 1,000 at 12 in for a more economical planting that closes in about two seasons, or 4,000 at 6 in for tiny plugs of thyme or sedum.