Checked "photos" on Houzz saw some cute ideas..scroll on thru painted family tree ...not all pics will apply

I'm a first time gardener and taking on an orchard no less : o I want to plant our own trees and have decided that espaliating them would be our best option. Does this look right though : 3m between rows of trees. 3m between individual trees in the rows. Can I group all the same trees next to eachother or are there any trees that should NOT be planted close to any others ? Also, we have clay soil so I will mix in gypsum with the compost and make a "doughnut" of straw around the raised base. Anything else you can think of ?

Looks like the palm tree look is working so I would blend that with some succulents maybe agave which can grow large and make great statement plants. Also stick with the stones.

I have many tree ferns in my back garden, I have a 10 foot fence and its very shady. Some of the tree ferns are now growing higher than the fence and are becoming straggly as the high ones get too much sun. Can I pinch the tops to promote less height and more shrubbyness? I have one that doesnt grow in height but has lots of fronds on its sides and it looks great.