Standard Tree Spacing

Location

• Before planting any tree, it's important to consider how tall the tree is going to be when full-grown. You must also consider how wide the branches are likely to spread. For everything you see above ground, there is going to be a similarly sized root system. For that reason, you shouldn't plant a tree too close to a house, because the roots might damage the house's foundation, and the limbs might fall on the roof. Before you plant a tree, know where buried utility lines run on your property so the roots don't interfere with them. Unless you want to do a lot of pruning, don't plant your trees under or near overhead lines.

Spacing

• The size of a mature tree should be your guide for standard tree spacing. Soil and climate conditions may affect the growth of a tree, so take that into consideration. Set trees that mature to less than 30 feet tall approximately 6 to 15 feet apart and no closer than 6 to 10 feet from a building. Examples of trees in this size range include dogwoods, hawthorn, sumac, hornbeam, redbud and flowering plums. Plant 30- to 70-foot trees 30 to 40 feet apart and no closer than 12 to 15 feet from a building. Trees in this size range are aspens, eastern red cedar, flowering pear, post oak, sassafras, pin oak, arborvitae, green ash, blue spruce and hemlock. Space trees that grow taller than 70 feet 40 to 50 feet apart and no closer to buildings than 15 to 20 feet. Maples, elms, oaks, pines and many other trees may grow to this height.

Canopy

• Another tree placement consideration is whether you want two or more trees of a similar height to create a canopy or whether you want each tree to be separate. As you plant trees, consider the overall appearance of the tree's shape. You could set a deciduous tree with a 20- to 30-foot mature canopy diameter 15 to 20 feet from a neighboring tree to provide canopy overlap. Typically, you would space these two trees 20 to 30 feet apart. As you plan for canopy overlap, keep in mind that some trees, such as pines, tend to grow tall with little horizontal spread.

Windbreaks

• If you are trying to create a windbreak to protect your home from the prevailing winds, you need to space trees close together. Set a row of evergreens 8 to 12 feet apart on the back side of the windbreak. Place a row or two of deciduous trees 10 to 14 feet apart in front of the evergreens. Set a row of shrubs in front of the deciduous trees. If you have room for only two rows of trees, select evergreens. They grow slower than some deciduous trees, but they do a better job of blocking the wind, especially in the wintertime.