For ground cover or hedges, plant count comes from the area and the on-center spacing. Area divided by the square each plant occupies gives how many plants fill the bed.
The example
200 sq ft, 12-inch spacing.
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Item | Value |
| 2 | 200 / 1² | — |
| 3 | Plants | → 200 |
The formula
The formula:
How it works
How it works:
- Convert spacing to feet (12 inches = 1 ft).
- Each plant occupies a square of spacing² — divide area by it for the count.
- Triangular spacing packs ~15% more: divide by
spacing² × 0.866. - For a row/hedge, use length ÷ spacing instead of area.
Triangular (offset) spacing fits more plants in the same bed. Square spacing wastes the gaps; staggering each row so plants nest into the diamonds between the row above fits about 15% more for the same on-center distance — divide by spacing² × 0.866 instead of spacing². For full coverage ground cover that’s real plant savings; for a formal grid, stick with square.
Try it: interactive demo
Area (sq ft) and spacing (inches).
Variations
Triangular spacing
~15% more:
Row / hedge count
Linear:
Cost
Plants × price:
Pitfalls & errors
Spacing in feet. Convert inches before squaring.
Square vs triangular. Triangular fits ~15% more.
Round sensibly. Round up for full coverage.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate plant count from spacing in Excel?
How does triangular spacing change it?
How do I count plants for a hedge row?
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