How Many Hedge Plants Do You Need Per Metre? A Simple Spacing Guide
Spacing is where DIY hedges most often go wrong, and it is also the easiest thing to get right. Here is the exact method we use on every install.
The one-per-metre rule
For advanced Lilly Pilly Resilience, plant one at the start of your run, then one every metre. In practice:
- 5 metre fence: 6 plants
- 10 metre fence: 11 plants
- 15 metre fence: 16 plants
- 20 metre fence: 21 plants
Our calculator does this maths for you and prices it in one step.
Why one metre and not closer?
Planting tighter feels like it should mean faster privacy, and plenty of nurseries will happily sell you the extra plants. But advanced stock at one-metre centres already touches within the first season. Go tighter and the plants compete for water and root space, thin out at the base, and you have paid for plants that fight each other instead of screening for you.
When to adjust
Wider (1.2m centres)
If you are patient and budget is tight, Premium or Ultimate stock at 1.2m centres will still close up within a couple of seasons and saves a few plants on long runs.
Corners and gates
Always start a plant close to each end point or gate post, then space evenly between. Measure your actual run rather than the fence panel count; panels lie.
Depth matters too
Keep the hedge line at least 50cm off the fence so plants develop foliage on both sides and you can trim the back face. On boundary plantings, remember your future hedge width: a clipped Resilience hedge sits comfortably at 60 to 80cm deep.
Still unsure?
Text a photo of your fence line with a rough length to 0493 728 423 and we will confirm plant numbers for free, usually the same day. Or use the quote form and include any corners, gates or slopes in the notes.