It’s easy to see why pleached trees have become the star of modern gardens. They are stately, precise, and look great with any style of architecture. In the past few years, garden designers have made more people aware of these formal trained trees. Now, anyone can think about adding height and grandeur to their garden with a row of pleached hornbeams or a lime allée.
We think of the 17th century when French estates were perfectly laid out and trees were trained structurally by manipulating branches. This is when we think of neatly clipped trained trees. And they still remain at their most breathtaking (and time consuming) in these grand schemes. But if you aren’t blessed with the acreage of Versailles,.
Above: A pleached hedge at Dromoland Castle in Ireland. Photograph by Wendy Cutler via Flickr.
Pleached trees, also known as plashed trees, are a gorgeous way to add height and structure to small gardens. With their elegantly intertwined branches and sculptural forms, they create privacy, shade, and beauty without overwhelming limited space. I’m going to explain everything you need to know about choosing and caring for pleached trees so you can enjoy their benefits even if you only have a tiny yard.
What Are Pleached Trees?
Pleached trees have their branches trained to grow horizontally along a frame. Unlike espaliered branches that grow flat on a single plane, pleached branches twist and weave together The end result is a narrow, hedge-like canopy atop a clear trunk.
Multiple pleached trees planted in a row are commonly used to form living screens and tunnels. The overlapping foliage creates a lush, continuous hedge elevated above the ground. A single pleached specimen makes a dramatic focal point.
Why Pleached Trees Are Perfect for Small Gardens
Pleached trees offer tons of benefits:
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They maximize vertical space By concentrating branches and leaves upwards instead of outwards, pleaching makes the most of the vertical dimension This allows you to have the beauty of a large tree even in a tiny plot.
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They create privacy without hogging real estate. Pleached trees screen views and define spaces with height rather than width. Areas get enclosed overhead instead of side-to-side.
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Options abound for small settings. Not all pleached trees reach giant proportions. There are choices like crabapple and photinia that stay under two meters for intimate nooks.
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You control the spread. Pruning pleached branches into a confined canopy prevents them from growing outward. You get the look of a bold tree without the sprawl.
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They bring structure. Forked pleached branches make living sculptures that stand out against fences and walls. The tailored, manicured look lends formality.
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They offer multi-season interest. Blooms, fruit, fall color, and evergreen foliage ensure pleached trees give four seasons of beauty.
Choosing the Right Trees for Pleaching in Small Gardens
When selecting trees for pleaching in limited space, consider their mature size, growth rate, site needs, and ornamental traits:
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Smaller trees: Crabapple, lime, photinia, and cherry laurel stay under 5 meters. They’re better for intimate areas.
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Compact growth: Slow growing trees like hornbeam put less demand on restricted roots so they adapt better.
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Modest site needs: Unfussy trees tolerant of most soils and light levels thrive with pleaching’s restricted roots.
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Ornamental extras: Spring blossoms, fall color, evergreen leaves, and showy fruit make pleached trees shine.
Some great options include:
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Crabapple – Spring flowers and fall fruits on a 3 meter tree.
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Hornbeam – Slow growing with fall color. Grows 5 meters tall.
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Lime – Small leaves and red twigs. Reaches 4 meters.
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Photinia – Evergreen with new red leaves. Hits 2 meters max.
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Cherry laurel – Evergreen with big glossy leaves. Grows to 5 meters.
Installing Pleached Trees in Small Gardens
When planting pleached trees, take extra care since their roots are more constrained:
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Mind the spacing. Leave at least 60 cm between each tree and 40 cm between the rows and any structures.
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Dig wide holes. Square planting holes encourage horizontal root growth. Make them slightly wider than the root ball.
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Prep potted trees. Remove any circling roots and give the root ball a good soak before planting.
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Set the height properly. Ensure the root flare sits level with the ground. Don’t plant too deeply.
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Backfill carefully. Settle soil around the roots to eliminate air gaps that can damage them.
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Stake well. Support newly planted trees with strong stakes and tree ties. Staking prevents wind damage.
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Water thoroughly. Give a deep watering at planting and supplemental water in dry periods while roots establish.
Follow these tips to help your pleached trees thrive in your petite paradise.
Caring for Pleached Trees in Small Gardens
Pleached trees need a bit of specialized care to maintain their lofty hedge-like shapes:
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Train new growth diligently. Tie in flexible new shoots along the branches. Weave and intertwine them with adjacent trees.
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Prune for shape. Keep side shoots clipped to outward growing branches to encourage density.
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Shear regularly. Use hedge shears to trim the canopy once or twice per year. This stimulates thick regrowth.
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Remove water sprouts. Rub off or prune away vertical shoots growing straight up from the trunk.
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Watch for pests and disease. Check leaves and branches regularly to spot issues early.
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Apply organic mulch. Replenish the mulch ring each spring to nourish roots and retain moisture.
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Water during droughts. Give supplemental water during excessively dry periods while trees are establishing.
A bit of attentive care ensures your pleached trees will thrive for years in your petite paradise. It’s worth the effort for their unique elegance!
Design Inspiration for Pleached Trees in Small Gardens
Need a little inspiration for incorporating pleached trees into your own small garden? Here are some gorgeous ways to put them to use:
Define Spaces Overhead
Use rows of pleached trees to delineate different areas of your garden from above rather than the sides. For example, frame a dining patio or meditation nook with pleached tree avenues. The transparent canopy creates a ceiling that makes the space feel like an outdoor room while allowing light to filter through.
Create an Intimate Hideaway
A pair of pleached trees situated close together makes a perfect private nest. Situate a bench in the secluded spot between two pleached trees near the center of a small garden. Surround it with fragrant flowering shrubs and small ornamental grasses for additional privacy and beauty.
Establish a Shady Tunnel
Line a narrow path with pleached trees on both sides to generate a sheltered, shaded passage. Use it to connect different areas in asymmetric small gardens. The pleached tunnel focuses movement through the winding avenue.
Form a Green Backdrop
Situate pleached trees against fences, walls, or hedges to visually soften hardscape surfaces. The undulating lines of interwoven branches contrast beautifully with straight lines and angles in the landscape. Let the pleached trees take center stage by limiting competing elements in front.
Make a Bold Focal Point
A standalone pleached specimen tree makes a dramatic focal point, especially when situated in a visible spot framed by lawn or an open terrace. The carefully pruned form draws the eye. Underplant with low groundcovers or foliage to highlight the architectural shape.
Pleached Trees Are Perfection for Petite Plots
Don’t let limited square footage stop you from growing beautiful trees! Pleached trees offer tons of benefits tailored specifically for maximizing small gardens:
- They take up minimal ground space.
- Their vertical shape adds height and structure.
- Options exist for even the tiniest yards.
- You control spread with pruning.
- They create privacy and focal points with style.
With the right selection, planting, and care, pleached trees can thrive and enhance tiny landscapes. If you have a small garden, consider adding these stunners to take advantage of every precious bit of your little plot!
Are there other ways I can use pleached trees?
It’s not just about the “hedge on stilts” look most commonly used. Growers create other shapes too. If you have the room, boxhead trees can look beautiful in a formal layout. Roof pleach, in which the tree canopy creates an umbrella effect, can look great on a terrace or to frame an entrance or doorway. Danish florist Claus Dalby does just this in his garden at his home in Denmark. Additionally pleached trees are sold in varying forms from lower hedges to towering trees and everything in between.
Above: Pleached trees border Vita Sackville-West’s Lime Walk at Sissinghurst Castle. Photograph by Phil Bartle via Flickr.
What are the best kinds of trees to pleach?
For Whyte, hornbeam and beech are favorites because they have lush leaves in the summer and rusty leaves in the winter, which are beautiful in their own way. They also lend an incredible architectural element to a dormant garden. “The stem system is quite sculptural and beautiful when the leaves have turned,” adds Whyte. Copper beech is also very pretty, but he warns that it needs a lot of space: “It’s a very sad plant, and I’d only use it in a big space.” ”.
Above: Family-run Crown Topiary in Hertford is about 30 miles north of London and specializes in boxhead trees (shown) as well as in other pleached and specimen trees. For more information and prices, see Crown Topiary.
10 Best Evergreen Trees for year round structure
What are the best trees for pleaching?
Beech, lime, hornbeam, and plane trees are some of the best trees for pleaching. This technique is particularly effective in a formal setting and is often used to line paths or avenues in larger gardens. Pleached trees for small gardens make an elegant division between two adjoining areas without making them feel boxed in.
What is a pleached tree?
Pleached trees bring formal structure and elegance to the garden. Use multiple pleached trees of the same kind to create structural forms that divide and define spaces at height. They can make a formal avenue on a large plot, screen an area that is overlooked, create an enclosed ‘room’ or a shady tunnel.
What are pleached trees used for?
Pleached trees can section off areas, be used to create enclosed spaces and instant ‘rooms’ as well as for screening. “They are especially good in urban spaces,” says garden and landscape designer Frederic Whyte. “They will add height on a boundary but without the claustrophobic feeling of hard landscaping. Above: Pleached crabapple trees.
Are pleached trees good for a garden?
Pleached trees are a popular type of tree in the UK and a great option for small and formal gardens because they don’t take up very much space. In addition, they require very little maintenance and pruning, since they will only need to be trimmed once or twice a year.
