Fruit trees; best planted in rows?

Hi all! I know the answer to my upcoming question may ultimately be a subjective one. However, there's always such great wisdom here, i thought i'd post for feedback.

If someone has, say, a dozen semi-dwarf fruit trees, all of which should be spaced about 15 feet apart, what's the most esthetically pleasing (as well as practical) way to lay them out? There's something really stunning about ROWS of fruit trees, you know? Perhaps staggered in a sort of serrated manner? But on the other hand, i'm sort of toying with the notion of diamonds and circles, and i'm just overthinking myself into a tizzy. Once they're planted, there they'll stay. So i don't want to make any "mistakes!"

HELP!

:)

OK that sounded a little desperate. Time for a refreshing beverage.

Estreya, like you I love them in straight rows, but love a bit of wiggle too - when we planted out our orchard a couple of years ago, I lined the trees so that visually they run in two lines setting up a long view of to frame the greenhouse. The plan is that I will eventually put in a path coming from the door of the greenhouse to the lower patio steps - this will give me the wiggle as the steps are considerably off center to the greenhouse - It is what husband, dear man, always refers to as my 'left handed lean' - fortunately I think he means it as an artistic compliment - but, hey, maybe not.

Your vision sounds exquisite, Laurie. And i know you have those gorgeous, graceful curves in every possible direction of your vista. What a paradise.

I also have a "left handed lean" (even politically!), but given the space i want to fill, my first instinct of a linear approach might be best. I actually thought to myself, if this landscape were a body, a human body, what kind of fabric would i be inclined to dress it in? A pin-stripe to elongate the lines? :) Such an approach would leave me room closer in for raised veggie beds and a grape patch bordered by espallierd (i'm sure i've spelled that wrong) fruit trees.

Tell me - do you think this "row" approach would work even though the trees are different? This is to say, there are a few different kinds of apples, various cherries, plums, apricots, etcetera. The commonality is that they're all semi-dwarf, so the proportions should be similar.

They're light enough to move around. I guess i should just play with positioning and see what best suits. I so appreciate your thoughts. Thank you ....

I also see i'm behind on some of my favorite threads here! I'll have to take some time to catch up with the coversations ....

OK cheers for now,

Barb

Something to keep in mind is ease of watering/access/maintenance & air circulation .
Also - if your land slopes, you may want to consider whether or not it would be advantageous to site them so that when you water, the run-off flows to the next plant downslope. I did this with my blues & it works well for my site.

Brillant idea Katye -

Estreya - mixed fruit trees are wonderful - infact, apples/pears need different ones for cross pollination - so it sounds perfect.

I must get that camera out. Oh, shoot, then I have to remember how I get them on the computer. Oh, double shoot, then I have to remember how to get them on the website. Hmmm, digging is easier.

I'll have a double shoot of espresso and a lemon scone, please?

:)

Excellent considerations, Katye! There IS a bit of a slope, which i assumed would be somewhat of a disadvantage till i read your words. And i suppose i'll put extra-wide mulch rings around every one so i have enough room to wind the tractor through.

Laurie, it was the neatest thing! At the nursery, they had a cross pollination chart one could refer to so proper selections could be made (crabapples, it seems, pollinate almost everything). I can't wait to see all the bee traffic!

Thank you, guys. You make me feel as if i might actually be able to pull this off. :)

Right now the Maples are in bloom & the bees are all over them, to the point where they are scouting out the garden "intruder" (me), to ensure that I don't mess with their work.
They circle my head a few times & then give me the green light. The blues are in bloom as well, and a few different bees on them - but one type is much more territorial. Wonder what is so special about blueberry blossoms vs the maple's?
I would add another piece of advice & that is to make an attempt to incorporate continuous bloom in your orchard area. I keep adding things & am reaping the benefits of a surplus for the bees.
What a fabulous day & I had to work late! Oh well, the evening is still nice & I can set about weeding until it's too dark to see.
Estreya - I made mini moats around my blues: raised in the middle with about 6" of depth for the water to collect. At the lowest part of the slope angle (per blue) I lowered the "moat" side just a bit so the water could escape & flow to the next plant downslope. They are in rows, but staggered to take advantage of the space.
Go outside & think about your space from different vantage points - you WILL hit on a plan that works for your site. Just don't rush it - it will evolve.
Ceanothus 'Julia Phelps' - she's a beauty plus the bees love her!

One of her buds:

Do you dip in your espresso? Hmmmm.

The ceanothus is just lovely. Nice drapery, Katye

Most will if the item in question is dippable. some just dunk!

Katye, what glorious color! And yet another wonderful suggestion.

As for dipping, i have to say, i'm rather against it! I relish the mingling of flavors during mastication alone, and i don't favor the yucky goo that is the dipping residue.

Ohhhhh, the saturated crumbs at the bottom - I get your cup! That's why they give you those cute little spoons! That and to get the last of the crema off the side of the cup - although a good dipper can get that - Can you really dunk in an espresso cup? Do you have to make the sound too - 'dUNK' - that has to be one of the best onomatopoeic words in the language - although screech is a close second.

estreya, I plan to have about a dozen assorted fruit trees (one of these days!) and right now I intend to arrange them in 3 staggered rows so the ones that need pollinators can be grouped together. Mine will be planted on a grassy slope so I'll be clearing and flattening an area just big enough for each tree and leaving the rest in grass to help keep the moisture in. South and slighly uphill will be my veggie garden and smaller fruits area. I happen to have plenty of room to spread things out in, but I know a lot of people have to arrange to fit their yards.

Your plan sounds fantastic, MzWeazelle, and your "voice" appropriately confident. Regretably, i seem to lack your clear vision! Believe it or not, my fruit trees are still in pots! Isn't that shameful? I'm just waiting till the very last one is broght home (still shopping), after which hubby and i will sort of carry them around, plunk them down, stand back and puzzle "no no that's not quite right, maybe over there." It will be rather like trying to figure out where to put the sofa, or more to the point, where to put a dozen sofas! :)

I did make a little draft of the yard for myself, and that's helping a great deal, as are all the kind words from you "folks in the know." Isn't it such great fun?

Oh it looks like this yard plan is in a format i can post! I'm sure the text will be too small to see, but basically, the plan is for the fruit trees to be planted in two rows of six and seven, about 15 feet apart. Like you, it's a gentle slope, no more than a two or three degrees, so i think the effect should be quite graceful ...

~~ blink blink ~~

Do you think i'm on the right track?

Looks like you've got quite a yard there! So far all I've got is the slope and fanciful plans. Someday it'll be an orchard. :-)

I think your plan looks great. Just remember to group similar trees together for best pollination.

Thank you, MzWeazelle. And may we never be without our dreams for "someday!" :)