In science fiction space is a very real and tangible place. In gardening and landscaping space should be given its serious due, as well. It is a common error of beginning gardeners to not seriously consider the spacing needs of plants.
Problems caused not giving plants enough space:
- Diminishes the size of the plant.
- Reduces production in food crops.
- Decreases beauty in ornamental plants.
- Excessive need for unnecessary pruning.
- Increased disease and insect problems due to lack of air circulation and nutrient deficiencies and easy spread of pest organisms from plant to plant.
- Lack of access for pruning, training, pest management, and harvesting.
- Lack of access to buildings, fences, etc for maintenance.
- Damage to home foundations or paint.
When planting any plant, whether it is a tomato or a tree, find out what its height and width will be when it is full grown. Vegetable gardening is tricky because seed packages often give space between plants rather than height and width. The height and width of a particular vegetable can vary depending on if you prefer smaller, younger vegetables or if you are planning to prune and train them in a particular way.
In general, if it says on the seed package that plants should be planted 24 inches apart, for example, the plant needs 24 inches by 24 inches of space to grow to its full maturity. That means that the plant from center will grow 12 inches in each direction. Allow at least 12 inches from the plant to walkways and structures. Vertical space is also important to consider so that plants don’t cover windows of houses or create shade for other plants. For trees it is especially important to not plant under utility lines.
Planning ahead for plants to grow into their natural size and shape will save you a lot of trouble in the future and make for a more pleasant gardening experience.
Happy Gardening!
