Spacing Trees in an Orchard

In general, the amount of space that is best for fruit trees will depend on the mature tree size and the region where it is grown. In regions with cold winters and short grower seasons, dwarf apple and cherry trees need a spacing of 6 to 8 feet, semi-dwarf trees about 15 feet, and standard or full-sized trees about 25 feet. Pears and non-dwarf sweet cherries are larger than other types of fruit trees, and should be given an additional 5 feet. Apricot, plums, peaches and sour cherries are similar in size to semi-dwarf apple trees. For regions with warm winters or long growing seasons, trees will need additional space.

Dwarf fruit trees, because of their smaller size, will need protection from deer browsing which is described in the section “Wildlife Damage.”