Perennial Plant Spacing Simplified

[@GardeningSpirit]

really appreciate this video! you speak nice & slowly and really explain which helps. funny how such an "easy" concept is so hard to get right. i'm guilty of overplanting and now having to edit & move things because my little plants have grown so much. PS- love the music!🍁🙂

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks so much for your feedback, as it helps me know what you're finding helpful! Yes, I was guilty -- sometimes still am -- of overplanting too, so I'm reminding myself in this video as well! 🤣

[@willaerley7140]

If you have a potted plant or houseplant of similar size, it helps to put it in that spot for some perspective. The evergreens are tough, though, because they grow over many years and look weird if they’re too small for an area. Then you have my front yard where my “dwarf” Alberta spruce is now 10 ft tall and overtaking it’s neighbors.

[@GardenSanity]

That’s a great idea to use potted plants, Will! 🪴 Yes, spacing with evergreens can be tougher because some grow faster than others, and some are sold looking very petite like your dwarf Alberta spruce.🌲 On the other hand, my small Blue Star Junipers are very slow growers, and I keep willing them to grow faster. 🤔

[@MagicalMukhina]

Great detailed video - really helpful. I actually suffer with OCD over this very issue which can be very debilitating. The amount of plants that I have planted and had to relocate is unbelievable!

[@schristinef6352]

As a new gardener (I use that word lightly - mainly trying to maintain the garden the previous owner created), this was very helpful!! Thank you!

[@GardenSanity]

You're very welcome! So glad to help out! Many times it can be tempting to pack plants in close together for a more lush look. However, then you may end up having to dig up and move plants once they get too crowded. By the way -- please don't sell yourself short -- so to speak -- you ARE a gardener if you're outside tending to plants! Whether it's a garden from the previous owner -- it's yours now! And I hope you end up enjoying it as much as I do. Gardening can be hard work, and frustrating at times, but also very rewarding and peaceful when we remember to look at the good things happening in our garden! 🧡🌸🌱🌳

[@samanthariley6822]

You have such a soothing voice and presentation style! Thanks for this video, I'm setting up my first perennial border and was confused about how many plants to buy.

[@GardenSanity]

Glad I could help Samantha! Your garden might look sparse for the first year or two, but once the plants fill in, you’ll be glad you didn’t crowd them too close. In the meantime, you could always add in some annuals to fill in any gaps…or a decorative rock for interest. What are you planning on putting into your garden?

[@samanthariley6822]

@@GardenSanity I love decorative rocks and dead logs! Also planning to put in a bee-safe watering station and a bird bath which should help cover any bald spots. I'm planning a (mostly) native pollinator garden with grasses and perennial flowers. Setting up my first garden ever in my new house after living in a lower Manhattan 1bd apartment for 8 years so I'm crazy excited! How long have you been gardening?

[@GardenSanity]

@@samanthariley6822 Oooh Samantha I love those little bee watering stations...and I'm a fan of bird baths, however, we live in mosquito land here and they will hatch their larvae in any still body of water. I'm thinking about a fountain -- maybe even a fountain/bird bath to keep the water moving. Your garden ideas sound wonderful! I remember how excited I was when we first moved into our home, to finally have a permanent space to garden however I wanted to! So I'm excited for you! 🌾 🌺 I've been gardening about 30 years...or more if you count helping my parents out with their gardens as a young girl!

[@chiomascharm4596]

This was so helpful! Thanks for sharing 💜

[@GardenSanity]

You’re welcome! I’m glad it was helpful! 🌱🙂

[@cherylmendenhall8795]

Very good explanation. Thank you!

[@sammysworld5485]

Yes spacing is very important BUT the tags are just general guidelines. Some get bigger then what’s indicated on tags. Also if a shrub get too big just prune it back to desired size. This what helped me.

[@GardenSanity]

Thanks for your very good points Sammy! 😀 Sometimes the tags aren't completely accurate, and wow that can be frustrating! Certain plants -- even when pruned back to a preferred size -- will continue to grow incredible roots underground and can take over roots of other plants next to them. Not always, but it does happen. And there's also people who plant things and have no intention of pruning, then get upset when the plant grows larger than they expected. (I did that myself early on!) 🙃 I think especially for beginning gardeners, it can be hard to visualize a mature plant in a new garden -- especially when it's as small as my Amsonia seedling! 🌱😀

[@jeannetteburgess3516]

Skewers! Phenomenal idea.

[@kimmicannon5629]

Love the music between segments. What I do in my garden is overlap (like the look of fullness) with some distance between. Also, it’s okay to have to transplant sometimes. That’s part of gardening. However, love your style of teaching. Keep up the great work. Happy gardening.

[@anotherone53]

Informative upload 💞👍🌱🙏

[@GardenSanity]

Thank you! 🌱🌺

[@truthofthematter9409]

Great informational video, Laura! I moved a Drift rose this weekend and did not follow your advice. I said to my Hubby... I'll probably be moving that next fall! lolz He didn't ask questions but just raised an eyebrow... he's used to me doing this! lolz

[@GardenSanity]

🤣😂 And you moved it because it outgrew it’s original spot! 🙂 It happens! And yes, I know the eyebrow-raising well when it comes to moving plants. 🤣

[@truthofthematter9409]

@@GardenSanity I still really want to move some other shrubs and plants but wouldn't you know that as soon as I get on a roll there's storms in the forecast for most of the week. It's ok though I've gotten a lot done this weekend.😉 Still spreading mulch around the big leaf babies... I mean hydrangeas! 🤣Hydrangeas you have to baby constantly.

[@GardenSanity]

Of course the weather NEVER cooperates! That happened to me too. I started moving shrubs one day last week - nice cool weather. The next day the humidity and heat sky-rocketed. 🥵 Yesterday, the weather forecast said a nice mild week. Today? Now we’re in for a somewhat rainy cloudy sunny week. 🤔🙄 I need some predictability!!!

[@truthofthematter9409]

@@GardenSanity I could use some of that too! lolz Mother Nature has her own plans, I guess.

[@GardenSanity]

Or a weather forecast that says, “Honestly? We have no clue!” ☀️🌤🌧⛈☁️🌈