tree spacing

samiam44 · #1 11-18-2011, 09:13 PM

Guys,

I've got a box of bare root fruit trees. I was going to do 2 rows. For mowing ease- should the trees be staggered or both at the same place?

X X X X X X
X X X X X

or
X X X X X

X X X X X

Any votes of experience?

Michael

CADplans · #2 11-18-2011, 09:29 PM

The trees have to be so far apart, if you are mowing with a Cub, it doesn't matter!!

mudpup · #3 11-19-2011, 08:13 AM

I have planted a lot of orchards. Staggered fine thay should be planted on a 10'x 10' no closer if you want nice fruit

CADplans · #4 11-19-2011, 10:52 AM

My apple trees are over 20 feet apart and almost touching now!!

They are about 8 years old.

DSC_0024640x421.jpg

Anybody know a good website that can teach me how to prune!!??

nikster · #5 11-19-2011, 11:38 AM

addaedtxtTree's at least 20ft. No time at all they will start touching.

Now for pruning I clip (March)EVERY TOP growing spike, branch etc. Leave ALL branch's that grow from the bottom of the branch.

Google prunning apple tree's. Loads of info & video's.

Spray evry 10 days after blossom,

I only have 4 tree's now (lost 4 over the years) & I give apples away by the bushel every year.

Nothing like driving by, cutting the grass & chomping down on your OWN apple.

From our own apple's the wifey & I froze 8 apple pie's & gave away about 4.

Nik,

Duh, thats for established trees.

After the 1st year with young trees, I would prune every branch just an inch or 2 toward the next leaf sprout. It takes years to fully form that umbrella like form you want.

MOST IMPORTANT; Winter oil & spray spray spray with fruit tree spray , that has fugecide.

CADplans · #6 11-19-2011, 11:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nikster

Tree's at least 20ft. No time at all they will start touching.

Now for pruning I clip (March)EVERY TOP growing spike, branch etc. Leave ALL branch's that grow from the bottom of the branch.

Google prunning apple tree's. Loads of info & video's.

Spray evry 10 days after blossom,

I only have 4 tree's now (lost 4 over the years) & I give apples away by the bushel every year.

Nothing like driving by, cutting the grass & chomping down on your OWN apple.

From our own apple's the wifey & I froze 8 apple pie's & gave away about 4.

Nik,

Can you come visit in March to SUNNY Virginia for 3 days, I cook a mean hamburger!!

green 4 acres · #7 11-19-2011, 07:53 PM

I have a 20 tree "orchard" with peaches , bing cherries , apples ,plum , and pears the pears and cherry trees will be twice the size of the others so I alternated them mine are 25 -30 ft apart . how long does it take apples to start producing ?
I probably didn't have a pollinator for the apple as I had red & yellow delicious and the yellow died ,but replaced with others and the same with cherry

.

CADplans · #8 11-19-2011, 08:23 PM

I planted "standard" trees, my goal was to get the trees higher than the deer can reach. I had to mail order them.

The standards fruited about the 4th year. The squirrel population quintupled on the 5th year.

The trees are higher than the deer can reach now. Squirrels are still a problem, but, fun to watch!!

Mountain Heritage · #9 11-22-2011, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samiam44

Guys,

I've got a box of bare root fruit trees. I was going to do 2 rows. For mowing ease- should the trees be staggered or both at the same place?

X X X X X X
X X X X X

or
X X X X X

X X X X X

Any votes of experience?

Michael

Now this is an interesting topic! I do enjoy planting trees! One thing to consider, how you plan on mowing? Always going the same way or changing it up and going 90 degrees to the last mowing? Let me see if I can find a picture of what I did in my yard. It works sometimes but others its a PIA!

I look forward to seeing your pictures as well as others of fruit trees in your yard and orchards. I am planning on adding some to my garden in the near furture.