Availability of suitable open space is a limitation in my case.
As you may remember from my previous posts, my plans is to keep trees small via a combination of pruning and using in-ground containers in the 7 to 15 gallon size range. (Containers can be periodically dug out and roots escaping out of the container can be pruned off.) Dwarfing rootstocks (e.g., M26) will be used when available.
I’ve pretty much settled on 5 feet tall as my target for tree height. While it will certainly vary from one tree to another depending on branch angle characteristics, height of branches above the ground, etc., what would be an appropriate spacing distance between trees?
I’m thinking that a trunk-to-trunk distance of 4 feet would be appropriate in this case. The distance between rows should of course be a few feet more to give enough distance for a walking path.
Does this sound like a good choice of spacing given the competing considerations of limited area and the need for each tree to have enough space to reach a size at which it will fruit?
What about the super dwarf roots M27, G65 (if you can find it) and plant in ground? They should top out about 5 feet. And would seem less work than digging, root pruning, and replanting, plus summer pruning to maintain 5 foot height on a less dwarfing rootstock.
@muchtolearn- I have a very similar concept I use in my backyard orchard in regards to tree height and spacing. My current layout is 3 rows of 4 trees with each tree being 5 ft trunk to trunk. The rows are seperated by 8 ft. Now that my trees are in their fourth year and becoming more established I feel it’s ideal as the natural maturing of the small tree has seemed to max out the space without driving into the neighboring tree. Some days I feel 6ft would have been more ideal between trees but I get over that fairly quick with a good prune.
I have attached an old picture from about a year ago and then I will attach another tomorrow of a current picture.
Because I want to be able to take the trees with me when we move. (Although we have no plans to do so right now there’s a certain inevitability to it, particularly as we are renters.) A tree is a long-term investment and not one I want to lose if we move to another house in a couple of years.
