Tree Spacing

The Louisville Restoration Branch of the Kentucky Chapter of The American Chestnut Foundation works with local governments and other entities to do American chestnut demonstration plantings, as well as other plantings.  Some examples in the Louisville area include the new planting with Metro Parks and Recreation in Des Pres Park.  Also, the first planting with Metro Parks is at the entry of the Louisville Nature Center in Joe Creason Park.  Within Jefferson Memorial Forest, there is a habitat planting that includes advanced American chestnut trees.  There is also a display planting at the Louisville Zoo.  Often, when a new planting opportunity comes along, one thing that is discussed is tree spacing.

American chestnut trees are best known for being a forest tree.  As such, they compete for light among the other trees growing around them and reach upward towards the light.  This competition encourages them to develop high reaching and limb free trunks or boles.

When doing our display, demonstration and restoration plantings, we like to keep the chestnut trees at a fairly tight spacing, say 15' to 20' apart.  These trees should get large, so this seems like very tight spacing.  However, this will encourage them to compete for light and grow upright, tall and somewhat "natural" looking like chestnut trees in our Kentucky forests 80+ years ago.

This historic photo shows the close proximity of American chestnut trees growing in the forest.

 

When grown in the open, not that this doesn't work, but it will lead the tree to develop more of a spreading crown.  Not that this is bad - actually, it creates a beautiful shade tree - but it won't show the tall, straight growth that chestnut trees are known for.

 



This open grown American chestnut shows its wide spreading crown.

 

Within Kentucky, we have a somewhat famous large surviving American chestnut tree known as the Adair tree.  This tree, found in Adair County, is growing in somewhat of a fence row between open pastures.  It exhibits an open crown form.

 

When I am asked about tree spacing for a new planting, I usually suggest 18' between trees.  Some folks suggest closer spacing, such as 15', with the thought that if a tree dies, the remaining trees are still at 30' spacing.  If a tree dies at 18' spacing, I'll do my best to get another one established in that spot before the others get so large that they overtop the spot.

 

Interested in planting chestnut trees on your property?  If so, please contact me by commenting on this blog.  Be sure to leave contact info, such as your email address.

 

Think spring!