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Suggested spacing for a hedge using these trees...
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Posted by bobbi_p z8/9 Cypress, TX (My Page) on Fri, Nov 20, 09 at 12:32
| Hello citrus forum. I was sent over here to ask the experts on citrus. We are building a large arbor for flowering vines behind our pool. I envision a solid citrus hedge behind this arbor to provide evergreen privacy, fragrance, and fruit! I'm on the far northwest side of Houston barely in Zone 9a.
I know by selecting different varieties of citrus "uniform hedge" may be difficult to create, but would like your opinions on spacing/mature size of the following varieties:
2 Pineapple Orange
1 unknown orange grown from seed (I know it's not likely to be good fruit. I just have to. It's a long story, not really pertinent here...)
1 Meyer Improved Lemon
1 Algerian Tangerine (sold to me to be like a "Clementine")
1 Brown Select Satsuma
I have Googled each of the varieties without finding mature tree sizes. Most sites describe the various varieties as a "medium tree" or "small tree." The fruit tree sale/orchard coordinator for the Harris County Master Gardeners (Extension) described the lemons around 10 ft, the oranges "bigger," and then said the tangerine and the Brown's select will be quite petite.
My vision IS for a solid hedge, so I'm thinking I'll put the 3 orange trees in the center about 8 feet apart, the lemon on one end peeking out from behind the arbor about 5 feet from the oranges, the tangerine on the opposite end about 4 feet from the orange, and the Brown's Select Satsuma in a different location because the Master Gardener told me it will only have 2-3 upright branches that can be trained with supports. Sounds like it might be good to try an espalier.
Please let me know if this spacing sounds approximately right to form a solid hedge in time, but allow enough space so individual trees can spread a bit. |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Suggested spacing for a hedge using these trees...
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| bobbi: Sounds perfect to me. We'll hope you don't get a severe freeze. Other than that it should do what you want. The Fruitnut |
RE: Suggested spacing for a hedge using these trees...
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| nice collection. I would recomend that you keep the 2 oranges together and the Tangerine and Satsuma together, since these to pair off closer to the same size. put the lemon on one end or the other. The lemon will be a little more spreading and less upright than the other 4. 10 foot apart will be tight and they should grow together making a solid hedge in about 5 years. 15 foot apart will still get you a fairly solid row, it will just take longer and you will be able to work and pick a little more easily. Most people make the mistake of planting too close to the fence. Plant well away from the fence so that you can get to the back side and pick from the whole tree. and the seedling, well, if it's not all that great you can always graft, but you never know, may be a nice fruit. Certainly worth growing. gl |
RE: Suggested spacing for a hedge using these trees...
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- Posted by bobbi_p z8/9 Cypress, TX (My Page) on
Sat, Nov 21, 09 at 12:46
| Thanks so much for the responses. This is the first time I've had the pleasure of "designing" my beds/landscape in a new house. I'm having great fun, but knowing we probably won't be here forever, want to make it apparent that great planning went in to my design! What's that quote about great responsibility coming with great power??? (Actually, it seems variations of that theme have been used by many including, The Bible, Winston Churchill, FDR, and Spiderman!) |
RE: Suggested spacing for a hedge using these trees...
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| The trees you have will become quite large at maturity unless grown on dwarfing rootstock. Your seedling orange will produce the same oranges as the fruit it came from. At 8 foot spacing, standard rootstock trees will be crowded, dwarf not. 16 foot spacing is better for standard trees. |
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