How to Measure Garden Space

Measuring your garden space is essential in planning beds, garden features and other aspects of your landscaping plans. You don't need to have a shed full of measuring tools or an advanced understanding of geometry to get accurate measurements, though. Here are some tips and tricks to measuring garden space that will help you save time and still ensure you purchase the right amount of materials.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Measuring tape
• Paper
• Ruler

1. Measure your house first with a measuring tape that reaches at least 30 meters. When measuring your garden, you can use your house as a starting point.

2. Draw an outline of your house onto a piece of paper, using a ruler to make straight lines. A good scale to use is 1:100, where for every meter of actual measurement you draw a centimeter on the paper. The larger your property, the larger the piece of paper you will need–or, you will have to use a smaller scale.

3. Make sure you know where your property lines are. Determine the measurements from your home to the property lines on all sides. Make sure you measure at 90 degree angles. Add the outline of your property to your scale drawing.

4. Use your home and property lines to measure the distance and relative size of objects or beds in your garden. For example, if you are using a pre-existing birdbath as the center of a new garden bed and need to place it in the correct position on your scale drawing, simply measure its distance from both your home and the nearest property lines, then use those measurements to mark it on your drawing.

5. Determine the length you want garden rows to be without having to use a yardstick or measuring tape by measuring how long your step is. Take a step and keep your feet in that position. Measure the distance between the toe of the front foot to the heel of the back foot. Then you can use your step to determine measurements.

6. Find the distance between garden rows or other areas in your yard using your shoes. Measure the pair of shoes you're working in from heel to toe. Use them as measuring tools by placing one foot directly in front of the other.

7. Measure the distance between seeds with your fingers. You can follow distance recommendations for the seeds you're planting without having to continually lay down a ruler–just measure the width of your index and middle finger together. Do the same for your three middle fingers, your four fingers and the distance between your outstretched thumb and pinkie. Once you know these measurements, you can use your hand to find measurements.