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For beginners..…
Planting density
The planning of a new orchard block can be more difficult than its actual planting. When planning an orchard block, one of the most crucial decisions the orchardist must make is the planting density of the new orchard block. Planting density, or the number of trees per acre, greatly effects orchard efficiency, productivity and the intensity of management needed to run the orchard.
Higher density orchards (500+ trees/acre) maximize productivity per acre while minimizing land waste. Lower density orchards (100-300 trees/acre) tend to produce less, but also minimize intensity of management, as water management, tree training and pruning. Today, the majority of mature orchards have densities between 200-500 trees per acre, but many growers are switching to higher density plantings in order to maximize production and precocity.
At whatever planting density is finally decided upon, a basic rule is to plant the trees so that, when they reach maturity the trees touch but do not crowd each other. Also, ensure that space is available for machinery to move freely through the orchard.
In order to achieve the ideal tree size for the planting density used, the rootstock/cultivar combination must be chosen carefully. Rootstocks which offer less size control (M.111, M.7a and G.30) are usually better for orchard blocks planted at lower densities (100 to 300 trees/acre), and do well with a central leader system. The more size controlling the rootstock (M.26, M.9 and Bud. 9), the better adapted it is to higher density planting systems (500 +trees/acre). The more dwarfing the rootstock the more likely it will need staking or trellising to support growth. These support systems can greatly increase the initial cost of planting. Many different training systems may be used with higher density plantings, including Vertical Axis and Slender Spindle.
The growth habit , precocity and vigor of the cultivar will also effect the mature size of the tree. The mature size of different cultivars on the same clonal rootstock can vary by as much as 40% (table 1). When cultivars with different degrees of vigor are planted within the same block, adjustments must be made in rootstocks used and/or in planting distance. Additional variations in mature tree size can be caused by geographical location, soil fertility, available water, light intensity, in-row spacing and grower management. Your nursery catalog or Extension Service can provide the appropriate recommendations for determining the growth habit of trees.
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