Pleached trees with their elegantly intertwined branches and sculptural forms are gaining popularity for small garden spaces. Also called plashed trees, pleaching is the process of training tree branches to grow horizontally along a framework. This creates a tall, hedge-like canopy on a clear trunk.
Pleached trees offer tons of benefits tailored for maximizing petite plots
They Take Up Minimal Ground Space
By concentrating foliage upwards instead of outwards, pleaching trees make the most of vertical real estate. You get the beauty and height of a large tree even in a tiny garden.
Their Vertical Shape Adds Height and Structure
The carefully pruned forked branches create living sculptures that stand out against fences, walls, and other garden features The tailored, manicured look lends formality
Options Exist for Even the Tiniest Yards
Not all pleached trees reach giant proportions. Compact choices like crabapple and photinia stay under 2 meters, perfect for the most intimate spaces.
You Control Spread with Pruning
Training branches into a confined hedge-like canopy prevents sprawl. Pleached trees give the look of bold trees without overwhelming the plot.
They Create Privacy and Focal Points with Style
Rows of pleached trees form airy overhead enclosures that define spaces vertically instead of horizontally. Single specimens make dramatic standalone focal points.
With the right selection, care, and pruning, pleached trees can thrive and maximize small garden plots. Here’s how to incorporate these stunners in petite paradises.
Choosing Pleached Trees for Small Gardens
When selecting pleached trees for limited space, consider:
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Smaller Trees: Crabapple, lime, photinia, and cherry laurel stay under 5 meters for intimate areas.
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Compact Growth: Slow growers like hornbeam adapt better in restricted garden plots.
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Modest Site Needs: Unfussy, tolerant trees thrive best with pleaching’s constrained roots.
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Ornamental Extras: Spring flowers, fall color, evergreen leaves, and showy fruits enhance pleached trees.
Top choices include:
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Crabapple – Spring blossoms and fall fruits on a 3 meter tree.
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Hornbeam – Slow growing with autumn color. Grows 5 meters.
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Lime – Small leaves and red twigs. Reaches 4 meters.
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Photinia – Evergreen with red new leaves. Hits 2 meters maximum.
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Cherry Laurel – Evergreen with big glossy leaves. Grows to 5 meters.
Installing Pleached Trees in Small Gardens
Planting pleached trees takes extra care since their roots are more confined:
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Space trees at least 60 cm apart and 40 cm from structures.
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Dig wide square holes to encourage horizontal roots.
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Loosen potted tree roots and soak before planting.
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Ensure root flare is level with the soil surface.
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Backfill carefully to eliminate air gaps around roots.
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Stake newly planted trees to prevent wind damage.
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Water thoroughly at planting and during dry periods.
Follow these tips for thriving pleached trees in petite plots!
Caring for Pleached Trees in Small Gardens
Pleached trees need specialized care to maintain their formal hedge-like shapes:
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Tie in flexible new shoots along the framework.
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Prune for shape and density. Shear 1-2 times per year.
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Remove vertical water sprouts from the trunk.
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Watch for pests and diseases. Treat issues early.
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Mulch annually with organic matter to nourish roots.
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Provide supplemental water during droughts.
Attentive care keeps pleached trees looking their best for years in small gardens. It’s worth it for their unique elegance!
Design Inspiration for Small Gardens
Here are gorgeous ways to use pleached trees in petite landscapes:
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Define Spaces Overhead: Pleached tree avenues frame spaces like dining patios.
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Create an Intimate Hideaway: A pair makes a perfect private nest for a bench.
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Build a Shady Tunnel: Line a narrow path to connect garden areas.
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Form a Green Backdrop: Soften hardscape and highlight pleached trees.
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Make a Bold Focal Point: A standalone pleached specimen draws the eye.
Don’t let limited space deter you from growing beautiful pleached trees! With smart plant selection and care, you can maximize every inch of a small garden with their vertical elegance.
Pleached Trees from Paramount Plants
FAQ
What is the easiest tree to pleach?
Tilia (lime) is the most commonly used tree for pleached walks; usually the red-twigged lime (Tilia platyphyllos ‘Rubra’). Ash, beech, chestnut, hornbeam and plane can also be pleached, as can apples and pears.
What is the difference between espalier and pleach?
Pleached & Espalier Trees. Pleached trees are created by training trees to a square frame, tying in and interlacing flexible young shoots along a supporting framework; creating a slim canopy. Espalier trees is the term used for pleached fruit trees, designed so that sun can shine on the fruit.
Are beech trees suitable for small gardens?
As most beech trees can achieve a maximum height of 30 to 40 metres, they are mainly grown in large gardens and estates, but some cultivars can be ideally suited for smaller gardens. Red Obelisk Beech Tree is a good candidate for modest spaces, as its slender growth habit makes it quite compact.