- name
- garden-layout-planner
- description
- Garden design and layout planning for gardeners. Plan your garden with companion planting, spacing, and sun requirements. Use when designing a new garden, planning crop rotation, or optimizing space. Security: file exports restricted to safe directories. Perfect for home gardeners, small farmers, and anyone maximizing their growing space.
Garden Layout Planner
Design your garden with smart planning tools for companion planting, spacing, and sun requirements.
Quick Start
Add a garden bed to your layout
garden_layout.py add-bed "<bed_name>" --width <feet> --length <feet> --sun "full/partial/shade"Add plants to a bed
garden_layout.py add-plant "<bed_name>" "<plant>" --row <row> --col <col>Get companion planting suggestions
garden_layout.py companions "<plant>"Get spacing requirements
garden_layout.py spacing "<plant>"Show complete garden layout
garden_layout.py layoutExport layout to markdown
garden_layout.py export "<output_file>"Usage Patterns
For new garden setup
# Define your beds
garden_layout.py add-bed "Bed 1" --width 4 --length 8 --sun "full"
garden_layout.py add-bed "Bed 2" --width 3 --length 6 --sun "partial"
# Check companion planting
garden_layout.py companions "tomato" # Best with basil, carrots, onions
garden_layout.py companions "cucumber" # Best with beans, corn, peas
# Add plants with proper spacing
garden_layout.py add-plant "Bed 1" "tomato" --row 1 --col 1
garden_layout.py add-plant "Bed 1" "basil" --row 1 --col 3 # Companion!
garden_layout.py add-plant "Bed 2" "beans" --row 1 --col 1
garden_layout.py add-plant "Bed 2" "corn" --row 2 --col 1 # Companion!
# Review your layout
garden_layout.py layoutFor companion planting optimization
# Check what grows well together
garden_layout.py companions "carrots" # Good with tomatoes, onions, lettuce
garden_layout.py companions "onions" # Good with carrots, tomatoes, beets
# Avoid bad combinations
garden_layout.py incompatible "potatoes" # Avoid with tomatoes, cucumbersFor small space maximization
# Use vertical growing for space efficiency
garden_layout.py add-bed "Trellis" --width 1 --length 6 --sun "full"
garden_layout.py add-plant "Trellis" "cucumber" --row 1 --col 1
garden_layout.py add-plant "Trellis" "peas" --row 2 --col 1
# Intensive planting with succession
garden_layout.py add-bed "Intensive Bed" --width 3 --length 4 --sun "full"
garden_layout.py add-plant "Intensive Bed" "lettuce" --row 1 --col 1
garden_layout.py add-plant "Intensive Bed" "radishes" --row 1 --col 2 # Fast harvestFor crop rotation planning
# Track what you planted each year
garden_layout.py add-season "2026" # Starts fresh layout
garden_layout.py add-plant "Bed 1" "tomatoes" --row 1 --col 1
garden_layout.py add-plant "Bed 2" "beans" --row 1 --col 1
# Next year, change families
garden_layout.py add-season "2027" # New layout
garden_layout.py add-plant "Bed 1" "carrots" --row 1 --col 1 # Different family
garden_layout.py add-plant "Bed 2" "corn" --row 1 --col 1 # Different familyCompanion Planting Guide
Best Combinations (Good Together)
| Plant | Good With | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Basil, carrots, onions, marigolds | Basil enhances flavor, carrots repel pests |
| Cucumbers | Beans, corn, peas, radishes | Beans fix nitrogen, corn provides support |
| Lettuce | Carrots, radishes, onions | Radishes mark rows, carrots break soil |
| Peppers | Basil, onions, carrots | Basil repels aphids |
| Beans | Corn, potatoes, cucumbers | Nitrogen fixation benefits neighbors |
| Carrots | Tomatoes, onions, lettuce | Onions repel carrot fly |
| Corn | Beans, squash, cucumbers | Three Sisters method |
| Squash | Corn, beans, radishes | Beans repel squash beetles |
Incompatible Plants (Avoid Together)
| Plant | Avoid With | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Potatoes, cucumbers, fennel | Same pests/diseases |
| Beans | Onions, garlic | Inhibit growth |
| Carrots | Dill, parsnips | Dill attracts carrot fly |
| Cucumbers | Potatoes, sage | Potatoes compete for space |
| Onions | Beans, peas | Inhibit bean growth |
Spacing Requirements
Small Plants (6-12 inches apart)
- Lettuce: 6-8 inches
- Spinach: 4-6 inches
- Radishes: 2-3 inches
- Onions: 4-6 inches
- Carrots: 2-3 inches
Medium Plants (12-24 inches apart)
- Peppers: 18-24 inches
- Eggplant: 18-24 inches
- Beans (bush): 12-18 inches
- Cabbage: 18-24 inches
Large Plants (24+ inches apart)
- Tomatoes: 24-36 inches
- Squash: 24-48 inches (or trellis)
- Corn: 12-18 inches (in blocks for pollination)
- Potatoes: 12-15 inches
Sun Requirements
Full Sun (6-8+ hours daily)
- Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash, corn, beans, cucumbers
Partial Sun (4-6 hours daily)
- Lettuce, spinach, kale, peas, carrots, beets
Shade (<4 hours daily)
- Some leafy greens, herbs like mint, chives
Examples
Three Sisters Garden (Traditional)
# Classic Native American companion planting
garden_layout.py add-bed "Three Sisters" --width 8 --length 8 --sun "full"
# Plant corn in center (support)
garden_layout.py add-plant "Three Sisters" "corn" --row 4 --col 4
# Plant beans around corn (nitrogen)
garden_layout.py add-plant "Three Sisters" "beans" --row 4 --col 2
garden_layout.py add-plant "Three Sisters" "beans" --row 4 --col 6
# Plant squash at edges (ground cover)
garden_layout.py add-plant "Three Sisters" "squash" --row 1 --col 1
garden_layout.py add-plant "Three Sisters" "squash" --row 1 --col 8
garden_layout.py add-plant "Three Sisters" "squash" --row 8 --col 1
garden_layout.py add-plant "Three Sisters" "squash" --row 8 --col 8Tomato-Basil Garden
# Simple companion planting
garden_layout.py add-bed "Tomato Patch" --width 4 --length 6 --sun "full"
garden_layout.py add-plant "Tomato Patch" "tomato" --row 1 --col 1
garden_layout.py add-plant "Tomato Patch" "basil" --row 1 --col 3 # Companion!
garden_layout.py add-plant "Tomato Patch" "carrots" --row 2 --col 1 # Under tomatoes
garden_layout.py add-plant "Tomato Patch" "carrots" --row 2 --col 3Mixed Bed for Small Spaces
# Intensive planting
garden_layout.py add-bed "Small Space" --width 3 --length 4 --sun "partial"
garden_layout.py add-plant "Small Space" "lettuce" --row 1 --col 1
garden_layout.py add-plant "Small Space" "radishes" --row 1 --col 2 # Fast, marks row
garden_layout.py add-plant "Small Space" "lettuce" --row 1 --col 3
garden_layout.py add-plant "Small Space" "spinach" --row 2 --col 1
garden_layout.py add-plant "Small Space" "onions" --row 2 --col 2
garden_layout.py add-plant "Small Space" "spinach" --row 2 --col 3Search Features
- Find compatible plants for companion planting
- Get spacing requirements for any plant
- Search layouts by plant name
- Filter by sun requirements
Security
Path Validation
The export function validates output paths to prevent malicious writes:
- ✅ Allowed:
~/.openclaw/workspace/,/tmp/, and home directory - ❌ Blocked: System paths (
/etc/,/usr/,/var/, etc.) - ❌ Blocked: Sensitive dotfiles (
~/.bashrc,~/.ssh, etc.)
Data Storage
- Garden layouts stored in:
~/.openclaw/workspace/garden_layout_db.json - Each bed tracks: dimensions, sun exposure, plants with positions
- Companion database built-in with 50+ plant relationships
- JSON format makes it easy to backup or migrate
Best Practices
- Plan before planting - Use layout planner to visualize before putting seeds in ground
- Use companion planting - Plant compatible species together
- Check spacing - Don't overcrowd, plants need room to grow
- Track sun exposure - Different beds have different sun requirements
- Plan for rotation - Track what you plant where each year
- Export for reference - Keep a backup of your garden plan
Related Skills
- plant-tracker - Track individual plants with care schedules and harvests
- seasonal-planting-guide - What to plant when in your growing zone
Use together for complete garden management!