How many plants do I need for 50 square feet?
Filling 50 square feet with plants on 12 inch centers takes 50 plants in a square grid or 58 in staggered rows. At 18 inches it is 23 plants; at 8 inches for a dense ground cover, 113; at 36 inches for shrubs, 6. Spacing is the mature width on the plant tag, not the pot size.
Plants for 50 square feet by spacing
| Spacing and typical plants | Square grid | Staggered rows | Cost at $5 each (grid) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 in: lettuce, bulbs | 200 | 231 | $1,000 |
| 8 in: pachysandra, annuals | 113 | 130 | $565 |
| 12 in: vinca, liriope, sedum | 50 | 58 | $250 |
| 18 in: hostas, daylilies, creeping phlox | 23 | 26 | $115 |
| 24 in: coneflower, small shrubs | 13 | 15 | $65 |
| 36 in: medium shrubs | 6 | 7 | $30 |
For 50 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 50 square feet
At $4 to $8 per plant in 4 in pots, 50 plants on 12 in centers cost $200 to $400; the same bed at 18 in spacing with 23 plants is $92 to $184 and fills in a season later. Flats of 18 or 32 plugs bring ground covers down to $1 to $2 each, so 113 plugs at 8 in spacing is about $113 to $226. Buy 5 percent extra for losses the first month. Prepare the bed with 2 to 3 in of compost (0.4 cubic yards for this area) and finish with 2 in of mulch, about 5 bags of 2 cubic feet; the mulch calculator has the full breakdown.
Layout for a 50 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 50 square feet at 12 inches apart?
50 plants in a square grid, since each plant occupies one square foot, or 58 in staggered rows. At 10 in spacing it is about 72.
How many plants for 50 square feet at 18 inches apart?
23 plants in a grid or 26 staggered. Each plant at 18 in spacing covers 2.25 square feet.
How much ground cover for 50 square feet?
113 plants at 8 in spacing for a fast fill, 50 at 12 in for a more economical planting that closes in about two seasons, or 200 at 6 in for tiny plugs of thyme or sedum.