Fruits

Distance between fruit trees

 

Have you ever wondered, at what distance should fruit trees be planted? The distance between fruit trees is one of the most frequent concerns among gardeners and hobbyists. This spacing will be determined by the type of tree, the quality of the soil, the expected height of the tree, the canopy, among other things.

Planting the correct spacing is of paramount importance as it allows the trees to reach their full potential and gives us easy access during harvest. The trees should be spaced so that they receive a lot of sun and allow air to circulate, this protects them against many diseases.

Proper spacing between fruit trees also helps ensure that each species gets the nutrients it needs from the soil, reduces crowding, and helps with pollination . The root systems extend between one and a half and three times the height of the tree.

At what distance to plant fruit trees

Good spacing can bring multiple benefits, whether you are planting a few or many fruit trees. A few centimeters can make the difference between a good and a bad harvest.

In commercial orchards, trees are often planted close together to maximize the use of space. In a garden area, things are not so clear cut. Sometimes you want to know the precise space to place a tree in an existing area between other bushes.

In either case, the spacing is measured from stem to stem of each tree. If you plant multiple trees, mark the position of each tree with bamboo poles to check the spacing before you start digging holes.

Fruit trees vary in size, you can find dwarf , semi-dwarf and standard sized fruit trees. Dwarf-sized trees generally reach 2.5 to 3 meters tall. Semi-dwarf trees tend to be 3.5 to 4.5 meters tall and standard sized trees generally reach 5.5 to 7.5 meters tall.

If you’re planting a small garden, many other factors come into play. For example, you probably want to keep a gap between rows of trees for easy access. As a general rule of thumb, this could be 1.5 times the spacing you have chosen for the trees within the row. The distance between fruit trees that should generally be used is:

  • 3×3 meters of space between dwarf trees
  • 3.5×3.5 meters of space between semi-dwarf trees
  • 6×6 meter spacing between standard size trees

Traditionally, orchards are planted in a grid pattern, in rows of trees from north to south to maximize the amount of sun reaching each tree. Spacing between fruit trees should be generous to allow root and canopy growth without competition. When in doubt, always leave more space than you think the tree will need.

Remember that when planting any tree you must respect the boundaries. Therefore, to know how far you can plant fruit trees from the road, it is important to follow current regulations. This in order that its roots and branches do not invade other people’s space.

 

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Robert Asprin, APD is a non-dieting Accredited Practicing Dietitian passionate about inspiring positive changes in eating and lifestyle behaviors to help improve health while nurturing relationships with food and body.

Robert Asprin

Robert Asprin, APD is a non-dieting Accredited Practicing Dietitian passionate about inspiring positive changes in eating and lifestyle behaviors to help improve health while nurturing relationships with food and body.

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