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Spruce tree planting/transplanting #744534

Asked April 15, 2021, 3:14 PM EDT

Hello - I am transplanting some evergreen trees into my yard to serve as privacy, windbreak and background. I have a question about spacing between the trees. The specific tree types are Black Hills Spruce and Meyers Spruce. They will be 7-9 feet in height and very close to a row (slight stagger). I'm trying to determine a good distance to plant them from each other. The Meyers Spruce appears to grow to 15-20 feet wide and the Black Hills 15-25 feet wide. The company who I will be doing the transplant is suggesting 12 feet apart from trunk to trunk. The online research is telling me that should be the minimum for each. I'm curious to get another opinion about the distance itself, as well as understand downside of planting at 12 feet apart. I understand that eventually down the road, they will intersect with each other. How big of an issue is this for the health and will there be anything I can do to prevent the issue? Any consideration and thoughts on this are greatly appreciated! Thanks, Tony

Hennepin County Minnesota

Expert Response

If planted too close, poor air circulation will create conditions for tree disease and disease spread.  And too close plantings may not be growing at optimum rates as they compete for nutrients.  

Without a diagram I can’t say for sure that they are too close, especially when they are staggered but the U of MN recommends 20’ spacing based on mature size at the following website.  Usually the point of staggering trees is to plant them farther apart for circulation and still have a privacy/wind break.  

So if you plant them at the minimum distance, they will not look staggered but very dense. A factor is whether or not and how you are alternating the trees or planting a row farther back. Another factor is whether or not you plan to prune them regularly to control size.  

See:  https://extension.umn.edu/agroforestry/trees-shrubs-windbreaks

Mary, Master Gardener, Tree Care Advisor Replied April 15, 2021, 4:03 PM EDT

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