SPACING: how to calculate it, and use it to your benefit in the garden
AUGUST 23, 2024
This week I got a question about using plastic weed barrier in the garden.
In case you're not familiar - plastic weed barrier is a layer of plastic (sometimes biodegradable, oftentimes not) that lives on the surface of the soil to prevent weeds from growing. Usually, holes are cut or burned in where you want to plant your plants, and hypothetically nothing can grow, except through those holes.
Since many of you are home gardeners like me, I am going to write this email from that perspective. But even as I transition to a larger scale flower farmer, I will still use these exact practices to control weeds, optimize air flow, and maximize growing space.
The goal of spacing, is that when your plant reaches its mature size, it has juuuust enough space for air to flow through and prevent disease, but no extra space so that the soil is bare. (PSA: bare soil = Mother Nature's garden, and she often plants weeds)
01. Make a spacing plan
Spacing Standards in my garden:
To start, let's talk through a few of the most commonly grown flowers and the spacing I allocate them:
• Sunflowers 4-6"
• Zinnias + Marigolds 9"
• Dahlias 12"
• Roses 18"
• Ranunculus + Anemones 9"
• Bulbs 2"
02. Simplify Further
Make it really easy
One place I do use (and reuse!) plastic in my garden is netting. Hortonova netting supports flowers, helping them grow straight. And, since it is perfect 6" squares I can easily space my flowers.
I lay the netting on the soil surface, planting either every square (6" spacing), or every other square like a checkerboard (9" spacing). This has helped me nail equal spacing and straight rows for several seasons in a row now!
To then use the netting for support, you'd need to drive stakes at the corners of your bed and raise the netting about 12" off the ground!
03. Cozy Spacing Benefits
Benefits of tight spacing
Up above you saw my sunflowers and marigolds from above, and here you get a view of what's under the leaf canopy - nearly weed free soil.
And the few weeds that are there are so starved for light, they haven't been able to grow very large.
However, plants aren't so cozy that their branches or lower leaves are touching - leaving space for air to flow through and reduce disease!
04. Applications in a mixed garden
Spacing = Garden Wins
Nailing garden spacing can help maintain soil heath, reduce weed pressure, and maximize your grow space.
If you have a spacing question, hit reply or drop it in next week's question box!
I love providing free garden education, and I hope you learned something new you can apply to your garden this season.
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