Tree Spacing Calculator

General rule: space trees at least half their mature canopy width. For example, a 30-ft maple needs 15-ft spacing. Street trees: 25-30 ft apart. Windbreaks: 10-15 ft apart. Orchard: species-specific (fruit trees 15-30 ft). woodland: 8-10 ft for density. Too close: competition, disease, poor growth. Too far: wasted space, slower canopy closure. Consider above/below-ground competition.

Square grid: trees in straight rows, easiest to plant/mow, less efficient (~78.5% land use). Triangular/staggered: rows offset by half spacing, honeycomb pattern, more efficient (~90.7% land use). For same spacing, triangular fits ~15% more trees. Triangular is ideal for: woodlots, windbreaks, maximum canopy. Square is fine for: street trees, specimen trees, easy maintenance access.

Yes! Setback rules: 10-20 ft from property lines (check local codes), 15+ ft from buildings, 5+ ft from sidewalks, 10+ ft from septic systems, 20+ ft from overhead wires. Root zones extend 2-3x canopy width - consider foundations, driveways, pipes. Underground utilities must be located before planting. Call 811 before digging. City trees may require permits. Check underground lines, drains, irrigation.

For irregular shapes: break into rectangles, calculate each section, add together. For curved beds: use average width. Round down trees rather than up - trees grow and need space. Add 10% extra for mortality/gaps. For naturalized areas, triangular spacing with variable distances looks most natural. Use marking paint to layout before digging. Visualize mature size - trees will touch at maturity with proper spacing.