Planning an orchard on your Australian property starts with one simple question: how many fruit trees will actually fit? The answer depends on the species you choose, the rootstock size, and your local climate. This guide gives you clear spacing numbers for apples, citrus, stone fruit, avocados, cherries, and bananas so you can plan your block with confidence.
What Affects How Many Fruit Trees You Can Plant Per Acre
Tree density is never a one-size-fits-all number. Several factors determine how many fruit trees you can fit on one acre without overcrowding.
Tree size and rootstock
Rootstock controls how large your tree will grow. Dwarf rootstocks keep trees compact, allowing tighter spacing and easier picking. Semi-dwarf varieties sit in the middle, offering a balance between yield and manageable size. Full-size or standard trees need far more room and can dominate a small block if you plant too many.
Climate and rainfall
Dry inland regions can handle slightly closer spacing because disease pressure is lower. Humid coastal areas demand wider gaps between trees to maintain airflow and reduce fungal problems. If your property receives heavy summer rain, add extra space to every row.
Machinery access and picking
Even a small tractor or trailer needs room to move between rows. If you plan to use machinery for spraying, mulching, or harvest transport, leave at least three metres between rows. Hand-picking hobby orchards can work with narrower paths, but you still need enough space to carry a ladder.
Disease pressure
Poor airflow invites fungal disease, especially in stone fruit and citrus. Trees planted too close create dense canopies that trap moisture and block sunlight. Wider spacing improves air circulation, reduces humidity, and makes spray coverage more effective.
Typical Spacing for Common Fruit Trees in Australia
Here are realistic spacing ranges for the most popular orchard fruit trees grown in Australia. These numbers account for typical rootstocks and standard commercial or hobby practices.
How Many Apple Trees Per Acre
Apple spacing varies widely depending on rootstock choice.
- Dwarf: 600 to 1,000 trees per acre. Rows at 3 to 4 metres, trees at 1.5 to 2 metres within the row.
- Semi-dwarf: 300 to 500 per acre. Rows at 4 to 5 metres, trees at 2.5 to 3 metres apart.
- Standard: 80 to 120 per acre. Rows at 6 to 7 metres, trees at 5 to 6 metres apart.
Dwarf apples suit small blocks and make hand-picking simple. Standard trees need more room but deliver larger canopies and heavier crops per tree.
How Many Citrus Trees per Acre (oranges, lemons, mandarins)
Citrus trees grow large canopies and need space for sun penetration and airflow.
- Standard spacing: 140 to 180 per acre. Rows at 5 to 6 metres, trees at 4 to 5 metres apart.
- High-density options: 220 to 300 per acre. Rows at 4 to 5 metres, trees at 3 to 3.5 metres apart.
High-density citrus works well in drier climates with good irrigation. Humid areas should stick to wider spacing to avoid fungal disease.
How Many Stone Fruit Trees per Acre (peaches, apricots, plums)
Stone fruit trees are vigorous growers and need room for annual pruning and good light exposure.
- Common range: 110 to 160 per acre. Rows at 5 to 6 metres, trees at 3.5 to 4.5 metres apart.
Stone fruit demands excellent airflow. Tighter spacing increases disease risk in humid regions, so err on the wider side if you live near the coast.
How Many Cherry Trees per Acre
Cherry spacing depends heavily on whether you use dwarfing rootstock.
- Dwarfing rootstocks: 250 to 350 per acre. Rows at 4 to 5 metres, trees at 2.5 to 3 metres apart.
- Standard: 80 to 120 per acre. Rows at 6 to 7 metres, trees at 5 to 6 metres apart.
Dwarf cherries suit regions with shorter growing seasons and limited space. Standard trees work better in cool-climate areas with longer chill hours.
How Many Avocado Trees per Acre
Avocados develop large, spreading canopies and need generous spacing.
- Wide spacing needed: 70 to 110 per acre. Rows at 6 to 8 metres, trees at 5 to 6 metres apart.
- Some growers use tighter spacing with later thinning. This approach plants more trees initially, then removes every second tree after five to seven years.
Avocados in humid subtropical regions benefit from maximum spacing to improve airflow and reduce root rot.
How Many Banana Trees per hectare
Bananas are typically measured per hectare in Australia, especially in Queensland commercial plantings.
- Standard commercial spacing: 1,200 to 1,600 plants per hectare. Rows at 3 to 4 metres, plants at 2 to 2.5 metres apart.
To convert for hobby use, one hectare equals roughly 2.47 acres. A small planting on one acre would hold around 500 to 650 banana plants at standard density.
How to Work Out Fruit Tree Spacing on Your Block
Use these steps to calculate how many trees will fit on your land without guesswork.
Measure tree width and add airflow margin
Check the mature canopy width for your chosen variety. Add at least one metre of airflow space between canopies. If your citrus tree grows to four metres wide, space trees at five metres within the row.
Check sun angles and cold pockets
Walk your block at different times of day to spot shaded areas and frost-prone hollows. Avoid planting in cold pockets where frost settles. North-facing slopes receive more sun and suit most fruit trees in southern Australia.
Plan rows so you can prune and pick easily
Leave enough room to walk between trees with a ladder. If you plan to use a small tractor, measure the width of your machinery and add at least one metre of clearance on each side.
Example Orchard Layouts (Australia)
These layouts show realistic tree numbers for one acre and one hectare plantings.
One acre hobby orchard
A mixed fruit orchard on one acre might include:
- 20 standard apple trees at 6-metre spacing
- 30 semi-dwarf stone fruit trees at 4-metre spacing
- 15 citrus trees at 5-metre spacing
- 8 avocado trees at wide spacing
Total: around 70 to 80 trees with comfortable access and good airflow.
One hectare commercial planting
A commercial planting on one hectare could hold:
- 400 dwarf apple trees in high-density rows
- 350 citrus trees at moderate spacing
- 1,400 banana plants in standard commercial rows
Commercial layouts prioritise yield per hectare and require irrigation, trellis systems, and machinery access throughout.
Mistakes to Avoid
These common errors cause long-term problems that are difficult to fix once trees are established.
Trees too close
Overcrowding leads to poor airflow, increased disease, and difficulty accessing trees for pruning and harvest. Once planted, trees cannot be easily moved.
No row access
Forgetting to plan for machinery or foot traffic makes ongoing orchard work frustrating. Leave clear paths wide enough for your tallest ladder or widest equipment.
Poor drainage
Fruit trees planted in waterlogged soil develop root rot and poor growth. Test drainage before planting and avoid low-lying areas where water pools after heavy rain.
Planting in frost zones
Frost pockets kill blossoms and ruin crops. Cold air sinks to low points, so avoid planting in gullies or at the base of slopes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mixed fruit orchards work best when you group trees by size and water needs. Plant standard trees in one area with wide spacing, and dwarf varieties in another with tighter rows. This approach simplifies irrigation and keeps pruning manageable.
You can, but it creates management challenges. Dwarf trees will be shaded by taller standard trees if planted too close. Keep at least 6 metres between dwarf and standard varieties, or plant them in separate rows.
Apples: 2 to 4 years for dwarf, 4 to 6 years for standard.
Citrus: 3 to 5 years.
Stone fruit: 3 to 5 years.
Cherries: 3 to 5 years for dwarf, 5 to 7 years for standard.
Avocados: 3 to 5 years for grafted trees, longer for seedlings.
Bananas: 12 to 18 months for first harvest.
Run irrigation lines along row ends or in dedicated service rows. Leave at least 1.5 metres between the last tree and your irrigation mainline to allow access for repairs and adjustments.
