Planting & seeds
How far apart should I plant fruit trees?
Spacing by rootstock, not by species: dwarf 8 to 10 ft, semi-dwarf 12 to 15 ft, standard 18 to 25 ft.
How this works
Spacing follows the rootstock, not the fruit. Leave the spacing + 4 ft between rows so a mower still fits once the canopies fill in.
Questions people ask
Does the rootstock or the variety decide the size?
The rootstock, almost entirely. The same Honeycrisp is an 8-foot tree on M.9 and a 25-foot tree on seedling rootstock.
Can I plant fruit trees closer than recommended?
Yes, and commercial orchards do, but close spacing needs disciplined annual pruning. Skip two years and you have a hedge with no fruit in the middle.
How far from a fence or building?
At least half the mature spread, so a semi-dwarf wants six to eight feet. Closer works against a wall if you commit to training it flat.