Spacing of Container-Grown Trees in the Nursery1

Abstract

The spacing of container-grown Betula verrucosa Ehrh., Eucalyptus sideroxylon A. Cunn., Dodonaea viscosa ‘Purpurea’ Jacq., and Liquidambar styraciflua L. was studied at 2 California locations in 1967 and 1968. As area per plant increased from can-to-can spacing, trunk caliper and taper increased, as did wt of roots and branches plus leaves, but increases in height and wt of trunk were less. At the closest spacings, the lower foliage was sparse, giving the trees a leggy appearance. Adequate spacing, about twice the can-to-can area, the first season gave benefits of increased trunk caliper and fuller foliage with a minimum sacrifice in height.

Height Control in Greenhouse Chrysanthemum by Mechanical Stress1

“…Shaking trunks of young sweet gum (Liquidambar styraciflua) reduced elongation growth, increased lateral growth, and hastened terminal (dormant) bud set (6). Similarly, increased spacing of container-grown trees in the nursery resulted in more sturdy, marketable plants which required less pruning and no staking when later planted in the landscape (2). The increased wind sway of the spaced-out trees apparently caused greater trunk taper than occurred with rigidly staked material.…”