Experiences with Higher Density standard, seedling or semi-dwarf orchard?

Hi All,

Thanks for all who are sharing their hard earned experiences on here.

Specifically for high density tree plantings of the larger rootstocks/seedlings, I've read a ton of threads discussing it, with many of us still in the "I think" or "I'm planning to try..." mode.  If some of the veterans who've been there, done that on 1/2 acre or larger could share some experiences, it would be most appreciated.  High density dwarf orchards are relatively standard,

What has your strategy been for tree density (fruit/nut/nitrogen fixers) and what's worked or not for you?

If a semi-dwarf orchard, were you able to get by without staking/support to limit upfront expense and labor (such as on M26 rootstock)?

Have you found any pruning/training protocols that worked well for higher density?

Thanks!

Steve

While in high school, I pruned a mature orchard planted way too close as young trees. They had intended to cut out every other tree as they matured. But it didn't happen leading to intense overcrowding. The trees scheduled for culling got pruned more heavily, thus making them better suited for a managed orchard.

I plant tree seedlings very close, like 3 feet apart. Many trees die, I cull many. The final spacing varies from too close to too far apart. The end result resembles a hedge rather than an orchard. I add new trees as needed to fill in gaps.

Joseph Lofthouse wrote:I plant tree seedlings very close, like 3 feet apart. Many trees die, I cull many. The final spacing varies from too close to too far apart. The end result resembles a hedge rather than an orchard. I add new trees as needed to fill in gaps.

Very cool, thanks.  With the closer spacing of your seedling orchard, being more hedgelike, how is the harvesting and maintenance?

I see you're in a similar rainfall environment as I am, as we're about 12" a year.  Have you observed any value of the more vigorous rootstock and density with low rainfall and harsh winters?

I have abundant irrigation, so don't worry about things like drought.

It's fine to harvest fruit from hedges. I basically prune to a "Y" shape (2 main scaffold branches) instead of the 3 to 5 scaffold branches that I'd leave on a stand-alone tree.

I plant only seedlings, on their own roots, therefore I have no experience with rootstocks.

It's common for about 1/3 of the seedlings I plant to die during the first few winters. I may minimize that  by planting seeds into a nursery bed. Then while transplanting, after their first winter, cull any that show the slightest bit of winter damage.