How to Use Pleached Trees for Privacy Screening in Your Garden

Privacy in your garden can transform an ordinary space into a secluded oasis. Among the most stylish and natural solutions to achieve this are pleached trees, which combine the beauty of mature trees with the practicality of a hedge. Here’s how you can use pleached trees to create private, peaceful areas in your garden.

Understanding Pleached Trees

Pleached trees, often known as "hedging on stilts," are trained to form a narrow screen by tying them to a frame to control their growth. This traditional European method of garden design is not only practical but also highly aesthetic, making it perfect for contemporary and classic landscapes alike.

Choosing the Right Trees

The key to successful pleaching starts with selecting the right species. Classic choices include lime (Tilia), hornbeam (Carpinus betulus), and beech (Fagus sylvatica), all of which are hardy, beautiful, and respond well to pruning. These species maintain their leaves in a dried state through the winter, providing year-round screening.

Designing with Pleached Trees

Frame Your Space: Position pleached trees along the boundaries of your property to create a natural green wall. This is particularly effective in urban gardens where space is at a premium and privacy is essential.

Layered Privacy: Combine pleached trees with lower shrubs, perennials or topiary balls to create a multi-tiered privacy screen. This not only enhances privacy but also adds depth and interest to your garden design.

Entrance Enhancement: Use pleached trees to line a driveway or to define the entrance to your home. This creates an impressive visual impact and a sense of arrival while keeping prying eyes away.

Installing Pleached Trees

Planting: Ensure the planting area is clear of weeds and well-prepared with enriched soil. Space the trees according to the species’ specific requirements, usually about 2-3 meters apart, to allow for growth and air circulation.

Support Structures: Install sturdy posts and horizontal wires before planting. These structures will support the trees as they grow and are essential for training them into a flat, pleached form.

Ongoing Care: Regular pruning is crucial to maintain the desired form and density of the pleach. This typically involves trimming in late winter or early spring before the growing season begins.

Practical Tips

Watering: Pleached trees require regular watering until they are fully established. A drip irrigation system can ensure they receive consistent moisture, particularly important in the initial years after planting.

Feeding: Apply a balanced fertilizer during the growing season to promote healthy growth and dense foliage, which is key to effective screening.

Pleached trees are more than just a privacy solution; they are a statement of style and a reflection of garden craftsmanship. Whether used to create private nooks, elegant borders, or to enhance architectural elements, they add value and beauty to any landscape.

Explore our selection of pleached trees to find the perfect match for your garden and start enjoying the added privacy and beauty they bring. Visit us at Grasslands Nursery to see our full collection and more.