How far apart should one plant fruit trees?

Fruit tree space

Fruit trees love to spread out their root systems. Knowing this, plant each fruit tree at least ten to fifteen feet away from each other; twenty feet is even better. Plant at least two fruit trees so they can cross-pollinate; otherwise, they will not bear fruit. Plant flowers near your fruit trees to attract bees, which will help the pollination process. If you are not using bees, take one branch and rub it on another tree to create manual pollination. Plant fruit trees at least six feet away from buildings and three feet from your sidewalks and driveway, so the root system will have room to spread.

Standard Planting Method

The first step in planting is to dig a hole wide enough to allow room for all the roots without any bending. Dig it deep and wide so that the roots are covered. Since the root system needs spreading space, makes sure the soil near your digging is not compacted. Some trees need to be staked; use six-foot stakes, hammering them at least two feet into the hole. Using some of the soil that you dug up, build a mound around the stakes and pat it down.
Now you are ready to place the tree very carefully into the hole. Make sure it is centered and able to spread its roots. Start to fill in the hole, very carefully covering the roots, then water. Add another layer of dirt, pat it down lightly and water it again. Keep this process up until you get to ground level. Use leftover soil for a raised circle around your new fruit tree. Mulch the inside circle, protecting the roots and helping to retain water.

Tips for growing fruit trees

Fruit trees love sun. Make sure you plant where your trees can soak in a minimum of six hours of sunlight per day. Check to make sure the sun is not blocked by obstacles, such as buildings or fences. When you are planting, do not plant in high sun that will stress the trees.
Make a map of your plantings with labels of where each tree is located. If you should decide to use a tag for each tree, do not tie it tightly. Weed the ground around the tree often, keeping them at a distance. Water your fruit tree continuously through mid-August. Be patient; understand that it takes years for trees to bear fruit.

Source:

Bay laurel Nursery

Earth Easy

Home Orchard Society

Resource:

University of Maine

Essortment

YOU tube how to plant a tree