Apple tree spacing guide

Are you about to plant some apple trees on your property, but you aren’t sure how far to space them? A lot goes into the spacing of apple trees, so make sure you do your research before placing them in the soil. Here is the apple tree spacing guide.

Here are some common traditional spacing distances for apple trees:

• Dwarf apple trees: 8-10 feet apart
• Semi-dwarf apple trees: 12-15 feet apart
• Standard and own-root apple trees: 20-30 feet apart

Fruit trees can be particular about placement and soil quality, so plant your fruit trees accordingly. You want your apple trees to prosper and produce fruit year after year, so take all of the tips into consideration.

Continue reading to learn more about fruit tree spacing and how to plant apple trees.

How far apart should you plant apple trees?

Dwarf apple trees are typically planted 8-10 feet apart, as most varieties get 8-10 feet tall and wide. Semi-dwarf apple trees are typically planted 12-15 feet apart, as they are more likely to grow 12-15 feet wide. Standard apple trees are planted more like 20-30 feet apart.

In high-density orchards, specialty dwarf and semi-dwarf apple trees are spaced 2-3 feet apart and trained on posts and wires. This close spacing requires quite a bit of initial training, a support system (often post and wire), and regular pruning.

Consider your personal space before deciding which type of apple trees to plant or purchase. How much room you have on your lot or in your garden plays a big role in how far you space your trees. Planting fruit trees in an orchard differs from planting a few in the backyard.

“The spacing of trees depends on the rootstock, the cultivar, and the richness of the soil and availability of water. All these factors should be considered before deciding on your spacing.”

Hardy Apples: Growing Apples in Cold Climates, by Bob Osborne

Choosing a location for planting apple trees

Wherever you decide to plant your apple trees, make sure there is plenty of opportunity for cross-pollination. The trees should be planted in a spot with plenty of good sunlight and rich soil.

Space the fruit trees according to their rootstock tag recommendations to ensure surrounding plants won’t interfere with their growth. You’ll also want to put different varieties that are compatible “pollination partners” close to each other for the bees (typically within 100 feet, if not much closer). Also, consider leaving space for future planting if you wish to add to your space over time.

Which apple trees are self-pollinating?

Cross-pollination is a wonderful thing when it comes to fruit trees and citrus trees. Sometimes this isn’t an option, though, and you have to rely on self-pollinating trees.

There are relatively few apple trees that are self-pollinating and will make your life easier as you grow the tasty fruit.

Apple trees that are somewhat self-pollinating include:

• Golden Delicious apples
• Grimes Golden apples
• Chehalis apples
• Whitney crabapples

Can you plant different fruit trees beside each other?

Yes, you can typically plant different types of fruit trees next to each other, and you can plant different varieties of the same species together.

Fruit trees – especially apples – can do extremely well when planted near other varieties of the same species that flower at the same time. This allows for cross-pollination, which is vital for fruit set in most apple varieties.

Add a variety of delicious fruit options to your garden and space the trees as needed. You’ll have a lovely backyard orchard full of amazing produce if you follow this apple tree spacing guide!

What happens if you plant apple trees too close together?

When you plant your fruit trees too closely together, the tree canopies will crowd each other out as they compete for light. You can plant semi-dwarf trees as close as 2 feet apart if you train them into a “spindle” orchard, but unless you are dedicated to specialty training, stick to the spacing recommended on the tag as it will be specific to the rootstock used on that tree.

Apple tree spacing guide for trees rows

As you think about how to space your rows of fruit trees, think about how tall your trees will be. If your trees will max out at 15 feet, space your trees 15 feet in between each row. Add an additional 3 to 5 feet if you can to give them maximum space (and access to sunlight).

The spacing you use also depends on how large of a walkway you need and whether you need equipment to fix between the trees. This includes lawnmowers, wagons, trucks, and more. This is a general rule for apple tree spacing guide information.

What should not be planted near apple trees or other fruit trees?

Many fruit trees do just fine when planted near one another, but some need to be kept far apart. When you go to plant fruit trees, consider the following.

• Do not plant apples or apricots with peppers or walnuts.
• Avoid planting blackberries, nectarine trees, or pears with raspberries.
• Keep blueberries, cherries, corn, grapes, and melons away from tomatoes and eggplants.
• Peach trees don’t do well with plums or raspberries.

FAQs about spacing your apple trees

References

• Penn State University: Pruning and Training Apple Trees
• University of Maine: Spacing Trees in an Orchard
• University of Saskatchewan: Apples