By: Shelby McCullough| Published: November 21, 2022
If you need help planting fruit trees in your Orlando yard, call the experts from McCullough Tree Service at 407-734-5854.
The Sunshine State’s mild climate makes it ideal for growing fruit trees that wouldn’t thrive elsewhere. Many Orlando homeowners want to plant small orchards to enjoy fresh homegrown fruits but need help figuring out where to start.
One of the most challenging aspects of planting an orchard is figuring out fruit tree spacing. Giving fruit trees plenty of space is crucial to their ability to mature and produce fruit. Although you might see trees in commercial orchards packed in close together, backyard fruit trees need more space to thrive.
If you want to plant fruit trees in your yard — whether full-size, dwarf, or semi-dwarf trees — the following simple spacing guide for trees can help you get started. Our certified arborists at McCullough Tree Service can help you select the ideal trees and plant and care for them to ensure the best results.
Why Fruit Tree Spacing Matters
Planting fruit trees with sufficient space between them ensures that the roots have plenty of access to the water and soil nutrients they need to grow and become mature trees. Leaving room between the trees also supports better airflow, which helps prevent diseases. Trees that are too close together get too much shade, affecting fruit production.
Good fruit production also requires pollination. Leaving space between trees ensures that pollinators like bees and birds can access pollen. At the same time, it’s important not to plant the trees too far apart, which can reduce pollination.
How Far Apart Should You Plant Fruit Trees?
The best way to determine fruit tree spacing is to use the size of the mature trees as a guide. Knowing how tall and wide the tree typically grows can help you plan your orchard.
Generally, standard trees reach a mature height of 18 to 25 feet. Semi-dwarf trees usually grow to about 12 to 15 feet tall, while dwarf varieties reach ten to 15 feet wide and tall.
Although every type of fruit tree has specific spacing requirements, a good rule of thumb is to use the mature tree’s height as a guide for spacing. In other words, if you are planting larger trees, they should be at least 18 feet apart. Some trees require more or less space, so review the species’ requirements before planting.
To ensure pollination, plant fruit trees within 100 feet of each other at the most. Otherwise, they may be too far apart and fail to produce fruit.
Get Help Planting Fruit Trees from Orlando’s Leading Arborists
If you dream of picking fresh fruit right from your backyard but need help getting started, call us at McCullough Tree Service at 407-734-5854. We work with local Orlando homeowners to plant and care for all types of trees, including fruit trees, shade trees for small yards, and ornamental landscape trees. We can help you calculate the best fruit tree spacing and maintain healthy, beautiful trees for maximum production and curb appeal.
