Plant spacing and bond pattern

The number of plants for a bed or a hedge follows from the plant spacing and from how the plants are set out — in a square or staggered (triangular). It's pure geometry, so it can be calculated precisely.

• 01Normal plant and row spacing (mixed planting): 1.0–1.5 m (Plantning og Landskab).
• 02Shelterbelt (Naturstyrelsen, guidance): within the row typically 1.0 m; row spacing 1.0–2.0 m (often 1.5 m).
• 03Ground-cover plants (supplier guidance): typically 5–7 units/m², ranging 1–10 units/m² depending on species.
• 04Hedge plants (supplier guidance, not a standard): beech/privet 3–5 per m; laurel/yew/thuja 2–3 per m.

The hedge and ground-cover figures are species-dependent rules of thumb from suppliers — not a standard. Use them as an estimate, and calculate exactly once you know the actual plant spacing.

A planting is ordered based on a planting plan and a plant list, not on loose estimates. The method from drawing to order:

• 011. Measure each bed (area) or each hedge/row (linear metres).
• 022. Choose the species and the planting distance the species needs on site.
• 033. Calculate quantity per species using the bonding formula (square or triangle) or per running metre.
• 044. Add a shrinkage allowance.
• 055. Collect all species and quantities in one plant list, which is used for ordering and receipt inspection.

The bonding — the pattern the plants are set in — affects both appearance and how closely the ground is covered:

• 01Square bond: plants in a regular grid; simple to set out and calculate.
• 02Triangle/offset planting: each row is offset by half the spacing, so plants stand in triangles; packs approximately 15.5% more plants and covers the ground faster — suitable for groundcover.
• 03Row bonding (hedge/windbreak): plants in one or more parallel rows with fixed planting and row spacing.