<jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Purpose</jats:title> <jats:p>This study aims to put forward a theory for the design of the crown sections in hedgerow orchards.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Design/methodology/approach</jats:title> <jats:p>The fruit trees located at the north latitudes 0°-60° were selected for analysis. In detail, the study period focused on the fruit trees’ growing season, that is from the vernal equinox to the autumnal equinox. Certain fixed hedge-shaped angle with sufficient sunlight throughout the seasons was calculated under the condition of the lines from north to south. Meanwhile, the crown cross section perpendicular to the lines was analyzed in rectangular, trapezoidal and triangular forms.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Findings</jats:title> <jats:p>Results showed that the adaptive geographic latitudes to different crown sections should be determined by the ratio analysis between various crown heights and spans.</jats:p> </jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title content-type="abstract-subheading">Originality/value</jats:title> <jats:p>The optimum parameters of the crown sections in different latitude areas can be determined by the theory proposed in this study.</jats:p> </jats:sec>