7d • General discussion
Why Fewer Plants Can Actually Mean a Better Landscape
This might sound backwards, but more plants does not automatically mean a better landscape.
One of the biggest mistakes I see is overplanting. People think dense = finished, so they cram everything in. What actually happens is plants compete, get stressed, and the space becomes harder to maintain.
Here’s what I aim for instead:
• Around 70–80% plant coverage at maturity
• Plants spaced correctly so they can grow into each other naturally
• Groundcovers doing the heavy lifting instead of tons of individual plants
When plants are spaced right, you get:
• Healthier growth
• Better water efficiency
• Less weeding over time
• A cleaner, more intentional look
The landscape fills in naturally instead of fighting itself.
This is also why I spend so much time choosing the right plants, not just pretty ones. Mature size, growth habit, and how they interact with nearby plants matters more than how full it looks on install day.
If you’ve ever wondered why some xeriscapes look lush and calm while others feel chaotic, spacing is usually the reason.
Next post I’ll break down how I choose plants that actually work together, not just look good in a pot.
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Why Fewer Plants Can Actually Mean a Better Landscape
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