Hi

Starting a new garden, I apologize if this is a stupid question but I
cannot see the wood for the trees.

Can anybody suggest any references for planting distances between
shrubs please. I have consulted my garening books but I cannot find
any reference to suggested planting distances between various shrubs.

Currently planting Box and Euonymus at a guessed 2 ft between plants,
probably plant the other stuff at the same planting distances, I can
always dig them up later.

Trying to plan the new garden is driving me nuts, maybe I shouldl lawn
the lot and put the shurbs into pots until next year when perhaps I
have a better idea what I am doing.

TIA

Dave

In article , Dave
writes
Hi

Starting a new garden, I apologize if this is a stupid question but I
cannot see the wood for the trees.

Can anybody suggest any references for planting distances between
shrubs please. I have consulted my garening books but I cannot find
any reference to suggested planting distances between various shrubs.

A lot of books will give you a final spread for shrubs. Plant according
to that distance and the garden will look bare until they've reached
their final size, plant too close and you'll have to take some out
later.

I always plant too close, FWIW. Looks good from the start and keeps the
weeds down. Then difficult decisions later on as to what to leave and
what to take out.

Currently planting Box and Euonymus at a guessed 2 ft between plants,
probably plant the other stuff at the same planting distances, I can
always dig them up later.

Are you making a hedge or a border? Hedge planting is closer so the
bushes merge into an impenetrable barrier.

Trying to plan the new garden is driving me nuts, maybe I shouldl lawn
the lot and put the shurbs into pots until next year when perhaps I
have a better idea what I am doing.

You'll learn better by doing.

Remember a garden is a developing entity. What you have in 5 years time
will be nothing like you have now. Don't feel that decisions you make
now are irrevocable. You can take plants out, move them around, if
they're too big to move, take cuttings and plant the resulting plants,
then get rid ot the original.

You'll find you come across new plants that you didn't know about, and
some which seem so desirable now won't seem anywhere near as desirable
compared to your new discoveries.

It's not like building a house, where you need to get the plans right at
the start. Do your best now, but mistakes won't be a major disaster.
Enjoy the experimenting, and relax!
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

Kay wrote:
A lot of books will give you a final spread for shrubs. Plant
according to that distance and the garden will look bare until
they've reached their final size, plant too close and you'll have to
take some out later.

I always plant too close, FWIW. Looks good from the start and keeps
the weeds down. Then difficult decisions later on as to what to leave
and what to take out.

Currently planting Box and Euonymus at a guessed 2 ft between plants,
probably plant the other stuff at the same planting distances, I can
always dig them up later.


Two rules of thumb:

1. Gardener's: distance between two shrubs = 2/3 the sum of the mature
height. At maturity will give massed growth but very empty in the medium
term

2 Designer's: Large shrubs (eg buddleia) 1.5m between centres. Medium
(Choisya) 1.0m. Small (lavender) 45/60cm. Overplanted at maturity but fills
out to good effect in a season or two.


Something like Geranium macchorizum (spelling!!!!) provides excellent
in-between ground cover in the interim in either regime - spreading & shade
tolerant

pk