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DUMB question re plant spacing

12 years ago

I'm having a senior moment and am questioning myself about plant spacing. If I put an iris that wants 1.5 feet spacing next to a clethra that wants 4 feet spacing, do I allow 4 feet from the center of the clethra to the center of the iris? And if the iris is next to a columbine that wants 2 feet spacing, I allow 2 feet from the center of the iris to the center of the columbine?

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Comments (5)

dowlinggram
12 years ago
If a plant requires 4 feet of space. Then you want 2 feet on either side of the center of the plant. The same with one that requires 2 feet--1 foot on either side.

I tend to plant mine further apart than what is required because they often get bigger than that before they need dividing. Then I fill in the space if there's too much with annuals. It makes it easier to get the weeds out too.

Those senior moments are not very nice and they are not confined to seniors. Anyone can get confused if they overthink something. I'm sure if you thought about it a while you would have come up with the right way
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
12 years ago
dowl is correct ..

and i will add.. give more space to things that can NOT be moved easily .. such as shrubs ... and also remember.. size estimates on permanent plants.. is at a given time frame.. things usually keep growing right past said ESTIMATES ... its just a matter of how many years ...

and dont worry about things that can be moved easily.. columbine .. or biennial/annual ... etc ...

some things need permanent spacing.. other things are much more flexible ...

and for a newbie spying in here.. never forget.. a garden is not a static thing ... when you spacing fails.. MOVE THINGS ....

and lisa .. dont worry about the senior moments.. unless it involves putting on your pants .. before you go outside to the garden.. that is when you will have real problems.. lol ...

ken
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I guess I just think of places like PA and NJ, and how they are farther south, and yet still zone 6. But admittedly I always forget to think of proximity to the water, and that would change things, so being on the island would make a difference. I googled, though, and found this. Who knows? I think you can find three different maps with three different results, lol. Not trying to be argumentative with anyone. I was just really somewhat taken aback when I saw Brooklyn zone 7. Sounds so tropical, lol. :) Dee P.S. Also interesting to see Suffolk county being zone 6. Must be elevation, I guess, but it is funny to me to see the north shore as zone 7 and the middle of the island as zone 6! Here is a link that might be useful: Cornell NY hardiness map
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LisaH
Original Author
12 years ago
Pants on--check! And thank you both for getting back to me!
mxk3 z5b_MI
12 years ago
Ditto above.
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
12 years ago
A few years ago, I walked out the door with my arms filled with everything I needed for work, got into the car, and put my seat belt on. It wasn't until then that I noticed that I was missing my blouse.

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