How far apart to plant evergreen trees is something a lot of lawn owners are curious about. Besides staying green all year round, most of these trees are known for their large sizes.
Whether you are just trying to line your property with evergreens or are trying to make a hedge for privacy purposes, there is a perfect distance that needs to be placed between these trees. We will discuss some common evergreen varieties and their spacing requirements in this comprehensive guide.
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How Far Apart Should You Plant Two Evergreen Trees?
Two evergreens should be planted 12 to 24 feet apart as a rough measure. However, the exact distance to be put between two trees depends on the type of the tree being planted and the purpose for which it is being sown.
Trees that grow very tall and wide should be planted several feet away from each other. Smaller trees, like arbor trees, can be placed only four feet apart. If you like to plant these trees in a single line, then the ideal distance is equal to the potential maximum width of the tree species. When planting a closely knit hedge with evergreens, you must plant them much closer.
– Importance of Distance Between Evergreens
Whether you are planting evergreen seeds or baby plants, putting an adequate distance between them is a must. For seedlings, overcrowding results in unnecessary competition for resources. Many seedlings need to germinate appropriately as they shield each other from sunlight and take up each other’s nutrients.
As these overcrowded evergreen plants grow, things only get worse. First, there is insufficient space for the roots to spread sideways comfortably. Consequently, the root growth becomes stunted, followed by the tree growth stunting. The result will be smaller trees that are weak and easily succumb to diseases and pests.
What Is the Ideal Spacing Between Different Evergreen Trees?
The ideal spacing between different evergreen trees is more or less equal to the maximum width of each tree. For example, junipers that grow 15 feet wide need to be placed 15 to 17 feet apart. When planted as a hedge, you can plant them even closer than that.
– Cypress Evergreens
Cypress is no doubt one of the best-known and most popular evergreens. There are two main types of this evergreen that people in the US are interested in. The Leyland cypress trees grow about 20 to 25 feet wide and 40 to 60 feet tall. The Italian cypress trees are 35 to 40 feet tall but only five feet wide.
Even though the Italian cypresses are shorter, they must be planted at least 10 to 12 feet apart. This is when you intend to avoid forming a hedge using these trees around the property. These trees can be planted only five to six feet apart when creating a barrier.
– Emerald Green Arborvitae
Two Emerald Green Arborvitae trees should ideally be planted at least four feet apart. If you want to create a very close-knit hedge using this tree, growing it just 14 inches apart is possible. In that instance, you will need to perform a lot of content pruning and upkeep to adjacent trees from interlocking. A four feet distance is ideal because these trees obtain a maximum width of only three to four feet in their adult form.
Another popular variety of this evergreen is the thuja green giant tree. As the name suggests, this tree can extend 12 to 15 feet wide and up to 30 to 50 feet tall . An ideal eight to 10 feet distance between them will allow these trees to reach these heights and widths. For a hedge, you can plant them five to six feet apart so that they will grow barely 30 feet tall.
– Spruce Trees
Spruce Trees are pyramidal-shaped trees with a cone-like appearance and whorled branches of leaves. Dwarf-sized spruce trees grow only five feet tall, whereas larger ones can reach up to 60 feet.
Because they grow so tall and their roots so wide, plant them at a minimum distance of 20 to 25 from each other. This might appear as a lot of space initially, but soon, you will see this space being filled by the large cone of the spruce tree. The Norway spruce variety is enormous and grows about 25 feet wide in a few years.
– Holly Tree
Hollies are the best-known and beloved evergreen species, and you can see why everyone wants to hedge their lawn with it. These trees with glossy, saw-toothed leaves can be several feet tall.
For example, 15 to 25 feet is the maximum height obtained by the stevens holly tree, with a width of five to 10 feet. The perfect spacing between these trees naturally is five to 25 feet.
American holly, in comparison, should be planted 10 to 20 feet apart because that is the maximum width it achieves. It can, however, grow about 50 feet tall within a few years.
– Juniper Evergreens
Junipers are one of the most lush green and fast growing evergreens you can plant around your property. The height of a typical Juniper, like the Spartan Juniper plant, varies from 15 to 20 feet. These trees expand to widths of about four to five feet only. Place them five to six feet apart for healthy growth when planting them as a tree.
Junipers can also be grown in shorter shrub-like forms for making hedges. In that case, put a distance of only two to three feet between them. A unique variety called Hollywood Juniper grows only 15 feet tall but can become 10 feet wide. These must be placed at least 10 to 15 feet apart to allow sufficient room for growth.
How to Plant Evergreen Trees With Proper Spacing?
To plant several evergreens with proper spacing, you need to dig holes twice as wide as the size of the root ball. Once one evergreen has been produced within its hole, drill two holes on either side at the distance needed.
– Dig Holes of an Appropriate Size
First, take a shovel and dig a right-sized hole in the ground. The hole for evergreens should be twice the diameter of the root ball and almost as deep as its height. It is okay for this hole to be wider, but it should not be deeper than the root ball’s height.
This arrangement allows the evergreen roots to establish quickly with the soil and spread faster. If you feel like the soil is too hard, it’s best to take an aerator to it before to help improve drainage and circulation before planting the evergreen.
– Place the Evergreen in the Hole
Before planting the evergreen plant, it needs to be watered thoroughly. Very carefully, lift the plant and place it within your dug hole. Ideally, the root ball should be slightly above the soil level.
If not then you will require to add more soil at the hole’s bottom using a shovel. Ensure that the evergreen is level on all sides and that there is not even the slightest tilting. Before you fill the hole up, water the root ball and the hole once again.
– Fill up the Hole
Now start filling the hole up using new soil shovel by shovel. We recommend only using 50 percent of any unique potting mix and 50 percent of the old soil taken out during digging. This practice allows the plant to adjust faster to the native soil.
Once the dug hole has been filled with soil, pat it down gently with your hands or the backside of the shovel.
– Repeat the Process
Once one evergreen has been planted, it is time to dig holes for the neighboring evergreens. Measure the required distance on both sides and start digging two holes. Once these two holes are filled, move on to the next. This way, you will grow perfectly spaced evergreens in a perfect row.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the ideal distance between two evergreens can only be determined by the person planting these trees.
- Find out the maximum possible height and width achieved by your evergreen choice and then plant them at an appropriate distance accordingly.
- If you want to make a hedge out of an evergreen, you can place them close together, but they will not grow to their maximum potential.
- If a tree is supposed to grow 12 to 15 feet wide, it should be placed at least eight to ten feet apart from its neighbors.
- Even if you are planting evergreen seedlings, the same spacing rules apply as fully grown trees.
This article will help you grow the perfect evergreens that will thrive for years.
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