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Tree Planting Distance Calculator

Pick a tree, or enter its mature height and width, to see how far from the house, a corner and overhead power lines to plant it. The distances come from published rules of thumb from the Arbor Day Foundation, University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension and Mississippi State University Extension, and mature sizes from The Morton Arboretum and university extension profiles. Sources are listed below the calculator.

How the calculator works

  • Size class. The Arbor Day Foundation sorts trees by mature height: small (25 feet or less), medium (up to 40 feet) and large (over 40 feet).
  • From a wall. Arbor Day suggests at least 8 to 10 feet for small trees, 15 feet for medium trees and 20 feet for large trees. University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension adds a second rule: plant at a minimum of half the mature canopy width from the home. The calculator shows whichever is larger.
  • From a corner. Arbor Day suggests at least 6 to 8 feet for small trees, 12 feet for medium trees and 15 feet for large trees. It says the same distances work as guidelines for walkways and driveways.
  • Overhead power lines. Arbor Day's rule of thumb is to plant as many feet from the pole-to-pole center line as the tree's mature height, and never to plant a tree taller than 25 feet at maturity under the lines or within 20 feet of the center line.
  • Roots. Mississippi State University Extension says tree roots usually extend at least 1.5 times the crown diameter, and up to 5 times in dry areas. Keep that in mind near sewer lines, septic systems and paving.
  • Our species guides. Where Tree Fluent has a planting-distance guide for that tree, the calculator also shows its suggestion and recommends the larger figure.

The calculator uses the top of each published size range, so the results lean toward more room. Trees in harsh climates often stay smaller: UNL Extension notes that in Nebraska, trees typically reach about 75 percent of the size given in other references. Before digging, locate underground utilities; in the US, call 811.

Sources