Advanced Garden Layout Calculator

1. Project and preset

Project name

Layout preset

Length unit

Currency

Optimisation strategy

Volume output

Bed placement mode

2. Garden dimensions and excluded areas

Garden shape

Length / side

Width

Diameter

Triangle base

Triangle height

Outer length

Outer width

Cut-out length

Cut-out width

Excluded area

Sheds, ponds, trees, patios.

Custom rectangular sections

Name

Length

Width

Quantity

Exclude

3. Beds, pathways, and access

Bed length

Bed width

Raised height

Bed gap

Manual bed count

Perimeter walk width

Main path width

Main path count

Main path length

Secondary width

Secondary count

Secondary length

Path material

Bed orientation

Border style

Wheelchair access Accessible bed widths Pollinator-friendly border Compare alternate layout

4. Crops and planting density

Add vegetables, herbs, flowers, fruits, shrubs, or custom plants.

Plant or crop

5. Sunlight, orientation, and shade

North direction

Row direction

Sunlight level

Daily sunlight hours

Tall plant placement

Wall / greenhouse shade

Seasonal exposure

Wind exposure

6. Irrigation and water planning

Irrigation method

Drip-line spacing

Emitter spacing

Water L per m²

Zones

Water source

7. Soil, compost, mulch, and bags

Soil depth

Mulch depth

Compost %

Topsoil %

Amendment %

Waste %

Bag volume (L)

Existing soil condition

Mulch type

8. Project costs

Bed cost each

Soil bag cost

Mulch bag cost

Path cost per area

Irrigation per length

Edging per length

Other cost

Formula used

Garden area: shape formula minus excluded areas.

Net planting area: gross area − exclusions − pathways.

Bed count: available grid capacity limited by net area.

Plant count: allocated area ÷ plant spacing footprint, adjusted by planting method.

Soil volume: total bed area × soil depth × waste allowance.

Irrigation length: lines per bed × bed length × bed count.

How to use this calculator

Choose a preset or enter custom garden dimensions.
Define beds, pathways, access widths, and excluded areas.
Add crops with spacing, allocation, germination, and yield values.
Enter irrigation, soil, mulch, and cost assumptions.
Submit the form, review warnings, and drag the visual beds.
Export results, planting schedules, costs, or the layout image.

Example planning data

Garden type	Typical bed width	Main path	Planting style	Best use
Raised-bed garden	1.0–1.2 m	0.6–1.0 m	Intensive	Vegetables and herbs
Square-foot garden	1.2 m	0.45–0.75 m	Grid planting	Small spaces
Accessible garden	0.75–1.2 m	0.9–1.5 m	Raised beds	Easy reach and mobility
Pollinator garden	Flexible	0.6–0.9 m	Layered planting	Flowers and habitat

Frequently asked questions

How accurate is the bed count?

It uses dimensions, spacing, pathways, and available area. Irregular boundaries may require field adjustments.

Can I use feet or metres?

Yes. Length, area, volume, pathway, soil, and irrigation values convert automatically.

What does planting allocation mean?

It assigns a percentage of total bed area to each crop.

Why does the calculator show warnings?

Warnings identify overcrowding, narrow paths, unassigned areas, and unsuitable shade choices.

Does it support square-foot gardening?

Yes. Select square-foot planting and enter plants per square foot.

Can I calculate soil bags?

Yes. Enter bed depth, bag size, and a waste allowance.

How are seeds estimated?

Plant count is adjusted for germination rate and extra seed percentage.

Can I plan drip irrigation?

Yes. The calculator estimates line count, total length, emitters, and water.

Can I compare layouts?

The results include an alternate layout estimate with changed pathway allocation.

Can I save my inputs?

Yes. Use local save and load buttons in the project section.

Can I export the plan?

You can copy results, download CSV files, create a PDF, print, and save an image.