Shrub Spacing

Shrubs are common landscaping plants that have several stems or trunks and branches that grow anywhere between 2 and 20 feet. Shrub spacing is the distance between two shrubs, and finding the appropriate spacing when planting shrubs is important in plant health and aesthetic appeal.

Size

• The size of the shrub to be planted typically determines the spacing. Greenhouses and other plant vendors will often recommend specific spacing between plants. Small shrubs may only require a couple feet of space while large shrubs can require a couple of yards or more.

Benefits

• Spacing shrubs an appropriate distance apart will allow shrubs to fill in empty space without looking too sparse or overcrowded. Spacing is also important for making hedges from shrubs; shrubs intended for hedges must be spaced close enough together so that the branches of each plant overlap with the next, creating a continuous wall or hedgerow.

Considerations

• Shrubs tend to be hardy plants and can survive transplantation. If shrubs are not spaced to your liking, you can likely dig them up and move them to into a more desirable configuration without causing excessive harm to the plant.