Thanks for the replies! The plants I'm thinking of getting are about 2ft wide. Do you think I could leave just 6 inches in between them? I really want them to close together quickly, but I don't want the rootballs to be so close together that they can't get enough nutrients etc. I'm concerned that we are goign to go through all this work and then they'll never merge if we put them very far apart. I see so many in the neighborhood that were meant to be a hedge but instead are just little balls next to each other and I dont want mine to look like that. Thanks! Kim ps. if you guys have any alternatives. I'm looking for something that will form a dense hedge, preferably prickly to discourage the dogs and it must be evergreen.

ok, i finally took a picture and uploaded it here: http://photos.gardenweb.com/garden/galleries/2010/09/can_i_plant_an_avocado_tree_he.html this is where i want to plant the Lamb Hass, in the far right corner of this terraced section behind my house. I would remove the dwarf lime tree that is there and plant the Lamb Hass so it would be 12 feet from the house but only 2 1/2-3 feet from the walls of the terrace. the back wall is very sturdy, the other two are less sturdy. Is this ok to plant here? If not, what about a semi-dwarf citrus or asian guava? thanks, ari ps: is there an easier way of adding an image? i find i have to post it elsewhere than link to it, which is very clunky considering the internet today. Here is a link that might be useful: picture of planting area

I do have a privacy fence and also I have two trees very close to my neighbor line. I did not plant them they grew on their own. I think they are Maple or just huge green trees. They are so beautiful like drawn by an artist extending 80-90 feet tall and spreading their branches and roots in my neighbor's yard.I asked the neighbor permission to come to their yard with my ladder and chain saw. They did not mind. I trim as much as I can. It is embarrassing. I asked the Neighbor if it is a bother to them I can remove them and his wife said "No don't I love the trees you don't know how much oxygen they are producing and look how many bird nests in the trees I enjoy the singing of the birds". I planted 4 Apricot trees this year on the same side but left a good 6 feet between the trees and the fence. Even they are dwarf Apricot trees and don't grow that much I wanted to make sure they stay in my property. Some Neighbors are very cynical once I had a neighbor who used to get upset when my cat walks on his grass He moved. I am lucky now I have Good ones.

The apricot is going to shoot up and grow larger than the citrus. The citrus probably will not be bothered by the shade from the apricot much. Not enough to not go ahead and do it anyway. The only thing would be if you will want to use dormant sprays or other preparations on the apricot later that it wouldn't be desirable to get on the citrus.