garden-layout-planner - SKILL.md Agent Skill

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 layout

Export 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 layout

For 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, cucumbers

For 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 harvest

For 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 family

Companion 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 8

Tomato-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 3

Mixed 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 3

Search 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!