When planting, not only the young Douglas fir must play a role, its future size must also be taken into account. The optimal distances, whether to another plant or solid walls, ensure it has enough space for undisturbed development.
What is the correct planting distance for a Douglas fir?
The planting distance for a Douglas fir should be at least 3 meters to ensure sufficient space for the growth of the crown and roots. When planting hedges, a distance of 1 to 1.5 meters between the trees is recommended.
Crown and roots need space
The Douglas fir requires a lot of space, both its visible crown and the roots deep in the earth. The high space requirement arises with increasing age, but this must be taken into account when planting.
The crown diameter of an adult tree is 6 to 8 m. This makes it clear that there is no room for other large plants next to this tree. The Douglas fir is perfect for a unique position when it comes to living in a private garden. If possible, this should be spacious; this type of tree is less suitable for small gardens.
Distance to buildings
When planting a Douglas fir in a home garden, it is important to maintain sufficient distance from walls so that they are not damaged later. While disturbing branches can be removed and only the beautiful appearance suffers, the root system cannot be controlled.
The planting distance from buildings should be chosen generously:
- at least 3 meters
- more to be on the safe side
Tip
Also remember that a tree that is too large cannot be easily felled later and official approval may be required.
Distance to property boundaries
When planting trees, the interests of neighboring properties also play a role and are also anchored in law accordingly. The distances to be maintained can vary depending on the federal state and should be researched before planting.
In general it can be said that the larger a tree can get, the greater the distance that must be maintained when planting it. With a tree as stately as the Douglas fir, which easily reaches 50 m, several meters of planting distance will certainly be required.
Combination with other trees
Not only the Douglas fir, neighboring trees also need enough space. Therefore, the planting distance must be chosen so that the crowns do not overlap if possible. The following aspects must be taken into consideration:
- how tall does the other tree grow
- how wide will his crown be
Douglas fir as a hedge
The Douglas fir can in principle be used as a hedge plant, but its rapid growth involves a lot of work. If the hedge is to retain the desired shape, it must be trimmed regularly.
If you choose this hedge despite the high pruning effort, you should plant the Douglas firs at a closer distance of 1 to 1.5 m.
