Looking for how far apart to plant apple trees? Read on.
Apple trees aren’t just for people with acres of land.
Even in a small space you can plant a dwarf apple hedge or an apple trellis and harvest successfully.
The spacing between fruit trees will vary depending on how you want your garden to look.
Whether you’re learning how to plant apple seeds for a school project or are indulging your curiosity about the potential of seeds, it’s important to understand the delicate process of germinating and planting so you can ultimately enjoy the fruits of your labor
In this article, we will show you how to determine the ideal spacing for the most common fruit trees.
Read on for the tips you need to give your apple tree the best chance.
Tips To Properly Spacing Apple Trees
If you take the right approach to growing apple trees, you are sure to reap great harvests.
Establishing spacing between fruit trees is fairly easy, as long as you have a tape measure.
However, there are additional steps you can take to ensure you have enough space for your trees.
Here are some tips for spacing apple trees properly:
Explore The Place
Apple trees grow best in full sun. They need about 6 hours of sunlight per day and need well-drained soil.
You don’t want to plant your tree in a shady spot.
If possible, choose a higher location with a slide so that cool air can flow away from the trees.
Do not plant trees near wooded areas or other trees.
You should also avoid planting in a low area where water can collect.
Measure the space you have to see what types of trees you could successfully grow in your planned garden.
Choose Your Variety
Depending on the space in the garden, choose between standard, semi-dwarf, and dwarf tree varieties.
Smaller gardens tend towards smaller trees, while large gardens can handle standard-sized trees.
Prepare The Soil
As with most fruits, apple trees do best when grown in full sun, which means six or more hours of direct sunlight per day in summer.
Apple trees need well-drained soil but need to be able to retain some moisture.
Fruit trees struggle in heavy clay soils; poorly drained soils lead to root rot diseases.
Plant the fruit in a spot with good air circulation so the leaves dry quickly after rain or watering.
Apple tree varieties have specific soil requirements for ideal growth.
Especially clay soils are very suitable for most types of apple trees.
The ideal soil pH is between 6.0 and 6.5, but a pH range of 5.5 to 7.0 is acceptable. Do a soil test before planting your apple trees.
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Measure Distance
Tree spacing is affected by rootstock, soil fertility, and pruning.
Seedlings or full-size trees should be planted in rows 15 to 18 feet apart.
A dwarf rootstock may be 4 to 8 feet apart in a row.
Of course, apple trees require cross-pollination; another variety flowering at the same time should be planted closer than 2000 feet
Here you get a tape measure and shovel.
Dig a planting hole in your hardwood that is 2 feet deep and twice the width of the tree’s root ball.
Then measure the correct distance from your hole for your next tree.
Family trees require 6 to 9 meters of space.
Semi-dwarf apple trees require 15 feet (4.5 meters) of space between trees.
Dig, measure, and continue planting until the row is complete.
Plant Your Apple Tree
Plant your apple tree in the planting hole and lay over the roots with soil.
Dig a hole about twice the diameter of the root system and 2 feet deep.
Put some of the loose soil back into the hole and loosen the soil around the walls of the planting hole to allow the roots to penetrate the soil easily.
Keep replacing the soil around the roots. As you begin to cover the roots, tighten the soil to ensure it surrounds the roots and removes air.
Do not add fertilizer at planting time as the roots can “burn”. Fill the rest of the hole with the loose soil and press the soil down firmly.
Water the tree and provide a layer of organic mulch to help the tree get used to its new environment.
For more details on how to dig a hole to plant a tree for quick establishment, follow our digging guide.
Advantages Of Spacing Your Apple Trees Properly
Most apples require pollen from another apple tree to yield fruit.
This second tree should be of a different variety, but also one that flowers at the same time.
The presence of bees will be very important; poor pollination can reduce the number of fruits and cause deformed fruits.
Pollination distance depends on the tree species you planted.
Most fruit trees can shed pollen that is twice their adult tree size.
The roots of apple trees get tangled when the trees are too close.
When apple tree roots get tangled, they steal nutrients from each other.
This prevents the growth of trees that get caught in the tangle.
In addition, tangles can help speed up the spread of disease between trees.
Because the missing distance makes it easier for diseases to penetrate the trees.
Root balls can make it difficult for trees to get enough nutrients.
Dense planting can promote the faster spread of plant diseases.
A canopy can form, leading to more fungal diseases.
While this canopy can give you great shade, it also keeps excess moisture from evaporating as quickly.
This in turn promotes fungal growth and fungal diseases become more common.
Larger apple varieties can release the pollen a little further.
For example, a dwarf variety that grows only 10 feet tall can pollinate with trees up to 20 feet away.
Meanwhile, a larger tree that grows up to 30 feet tall can cross-pollinate up to 75 feet away.
Apple trees grow best when different cultivars are used for cross-pollination.
It is recommended to change the plant type for every third tree in a row for the best effect.
FAQ’s
How close do 2 apple trees need to be?
The suggested planting distance for apple trees is within a 100-foot radius for pollination purposes.
What is the best month to plant apple trees?
The best time to grow apple trees is in the spring in colder northern climes. It is advised to plant in the early spring or late fall in regions with milder winters. Dig a hole that is about 2 feet deep and twice the diameter of the tree’s root ball after clearing the area of weeds and grass in a 4-foot circle.
Do apple trees need to be planted next to each other?
Apples are not self-fertile. For a good fruit set, plant at least two distinct apple tree varieties 50 feet apart.
What happens if you plant apple trees too close together?
The trees may create a canopy that restricts airflow beneath the leaves. As a result, the fruit harvest may be harmed or destroyed. This can also promote the growth of fungi.
How long does it take for an apple tree to bear fruit?
During the growing season, apple trees require at least 8 hours of sunlight each day. A dwarf apple can be one of the two types that are needed for effective pollination. After planting, dwarf apple trees will begin to produce fruit two to three years later. Up to 8 years may pass before trees of average size give fruit.
What should I put under my apple tree
Chives, wildflowers, lavender, comfrey, berry bushes, chamomile, and nasturtiums are the ideal plants to cultivate beneath your apple tree. While not depleting the apple tree of any nutrients, these plants can assist enhance soil quality and boost apple yield.
What is the best month to plant apple trees?
The best time to grow apple trees is in the spring in colder northern climes. It is advised to plant in the early spring or late fall in regions with milder winters. Dig a hole that is about 2 feet deep and twice the diameter of the tree’s root ball, clearing the area of weeds and grass in a 4-foot circle.
How long does it take for an apple tree to grow to full size?
Standard or full-size trees that are between four and eight years old
What month do apple trees produce fruit?
Depending on the region and variety, apples typically ripen between late summer and late October (early, mid or late harvest season).
Final Thoughts
Apple trees need 20 to 30 feet of space between each other.
This is close enough to allow cross-pollination between trees, but far enough away to prevent root entanglement.
For dwarf apple trees, reduce the distance between trees to 2 to 3 meters.
A good rule of thumb is to space full-tree-size apple trees.
Regular apple trees grow up to 9 meters tall, while dwarf trees grow up to 3 meters tall.
The distance between apple trees should correspond to the adult height of the tree.
Plant fruit trees the same distance apart as they grow 30cm tall.
Plant standard apple trees 20 to 30 feet apart.
Plant semi-dwarf apple trees 15 feet apart.
Plant dwarf apple trees 7-10 feet apart.
Keep in mind that planting trees too close together can compromise the health of the trees and allow them to pollinate with others.
Follow the tips in this article to get a good harvest.
