Ornamental Plants & Tree Gardening. The Art of Square Foot.

Creating Beauty in the Smallest Possible Area Not much room. Big Color. The possibilities are endless.

Even if you have limited space, square foot gardening is a great method to build a rich, visually appealing decorative garden. It’s not only for veggies. You may carefully choose and arrange blooming perennials, shrubs, grasses, and small trees to create a landscape that is as useful as it is attractive by breaking up your planting space into manageable 12” x 12” squares.

Knowing Plant Spacing: The square foot approach of designing an attractive garden begins with the appropriate plant spacing according to mature width. To find out how many of each plant fit in one square foot, use this short cheat sheet:

• One plant per square, 12” wide

• Four plants each square are 6” broad.

• Nine plants per square, 4” broad
• 16 plants per square, 3” broad

Pro Tip: Use four or more squares per plant (e.g., 2’x2’ = 4 squares) for bigger plants, such as compact shrubs. When spacing, measure from center to center!

Square Foot Gardening Advice:

Make use of grid-arranged pots or raised beds. Mulch extensively to prevent weed growth and preserve moisture. In beds with dense plantings, water at the base to avoid mildew. When roots are close to one another, fertilize sparingly—less is more.

Selecting Plants for Sunlight vs. Shade:

Match your plants to the light they want since every square foot matters

Our Favorites for Full Sun (6+ hours of direct sunlight)

Compact and vibrant, Poprocks® Petite Spirea plant within a one square.


Allow 4-6 squares for Red Creeping Thyme, a small herb with striking red foliage in the fall.

Cherry-Go-Round® Hydrangea: Best suited for a 2’ x 2’ space, full sun in colder climates, part shade to shade in the warmer climates.

Planting Companions for Success

The proper plant pairing improves both aesthetic appeal and health. Find these combinations over at ShopPlantFactory.com

Classic elegance and ideal for dappled shade are hydrangeas and hostas.

Spirea and ornamental grasses provide a textured contrast for areas that get full light.

Yarrow and Buddleia are ideal for hot climates, pollinator-friendly, and drought-tolerant.

Crapemyrtles and Azaleas: All-year appeal and weed control