Pleached trees: a complete guide for modern gardens in south west London
- Craig Davis
- Dec 9, 2025
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 16
Pleached trees are one of the smartest ways to bring height, structure and privacy into any garden, especially in Surbiton, Kingston and the wider south west London clay belt. They create elegant green panels above a clear trunk, giving you screening without making the space feel boxed in. Whether you want to soften a boundary, block an overlooking window or add architectural shape, pleached trees do the job beautifully.
Why pleached trees work so well in London gardens
Pleached trees are ideal for:
screening neighbours or overlooking windows
adding structure to contemporary gardens
framing dining areas, patios or terraces
softening fences and boundary lines
creating rhythm along paths or driveways
improving privacy without losing light or space
If you are planning a terrace or need to hide an overlooking window in Surbiton or Kingston, Flourish can help you choose the right pleached species and spacing for your garden.
How pleached trees work
A pleached tree is trained onto a rectangular frame so branches grow flat, creating a living screen. Think of it as a hedge on stilts: open underneath, structured above, ideal for modern gardens and tight urban boundaries.
Evergreen pleached trees for year-round privacy
Photinia × fraseri
Description: Bright, glossy evergreen foliage with striking red new growth
Notable cultivars: ‘Red Robin’, ‘Carré Rouge’
Pruning: Late spring and late summer
Notes: Best used where colour contrast is needed; requires regular pruning to maintain density
Quercus ilex (Holm oak)
Description: Elegant, long-lived evergreen tree; highly pollution tolerant
Notable cultivars: Species, ‘Ballota’, ‘Rotundifolia’
Pruning: Mid to late summer
Notes: Well suited to urban and coastal environments
Ilex aquifolium (Holly)
Description: Dense evergreen foliage with ornamental berries
Notable cultivars: ‘J. C. van Tol’, ‘Alaska’, ‘Argentea Marginata’
Pruning: Early summer or late winter
Notes: Many cultivars are self-fertile; good for formal or informal screening
Prunus laurocerasus (Cherry laurel)
Description: Fast-growing, reliable evergreen screening tree
Notable cultivars: ‘Novita’, ‘Rotundifolia’, ‘Caucasica’, ‘Genolia’
Pruning: Late spring and late summer
Notes: Choose lighter or narrower cultivars to avoid excessive bulk
Magnolia grandiflora
Description: Large, glossy evergreen leaves with creamy white flowers
Notable cultivars: ‘Gallisoniensis’, ‘Little Gem’, ‘Goliath’
Pruning: After flowering
Notes: Requires shelter; best in warmer or protected sites
Eriobotrya japonica (Loquat)
Description: Bold, exotic evergreen foliage
Notable cultivars: Species
Pruning: Early summer
Notes: Suitable for sheltered gardens; flowers and fruits in mild climates
Deciduous Pleached Trees for Seasonal Interest
Carpinus betulus (Hornbeam)
Description: One of the most reliable deciduous pleached trees
Notable cultivars: Species
Pruning: June and early September
Notes: Retains dead leaves through winter, providing privacy
Fagus sylvatica (Beech)
Description: Rich foliage colour with good winter leaf retention
Notable cultivars: Green forms, ‘Purpurea’
Pruning: Late summer
Notes: Best on free-draining soils
Tilia × europaea / Tilia cordata (Lime)
Description: Fast-growing and strongly architectural
Notable cultivars: ‘Pallida’, T. cordata
Pruning: Mid-summer
Notes: Excellent for formal avenues and large-scale pleaching
Pyrus calleryana (Ornamental pear)
Description: Spring blossom, tidy form, and strong leaf retention
Notable cultivars: ‘Chanticleer’, ‘Capital’
Pruning: Late summer
Notes: Good choice where neat structure is required
Liquidambar styraciflua (Sweet gum)
Description: Outstanding autumn colour
Notable cultivars: ‘Worplesdon’
Pruning: Mid to late summer
Notes: Requires acidic or neutral soils for best colour
Malus (Crab apple)
Description: Abundant blossom followed by decorative fruit
Notable cultivars: ‘Evereste’, ‘Floribunda’
Pruning: Late summer
Notes: Excellent for seasonal interest and wildlife value
Sizes, frames and spacing explained
Girth: 8–10 cm, 10–12 cm, 12–14 cm, 14–16 cm
Clear stem height: 1.8 m, 2.0 m, 2.2 m
Frame sizes: 1.2 × 1.2 m to 2.0 × 2.0 m
Freshly vs fully pleached
Freshly pleached: younger, more affordable, fill out in one to two seasons.
Fully pleached: dense, instant screening.
Pot-grown vs rootballed
Pot-grown: plant year-round.
Rootballed: November to April.
Cost guide for pleached trees (what to expect)
Pleached trees vary in cost depending on species, size, frame dimensions, level of training and access to your garden. These price bands help with early budgeting.
Tree supply prices
Freshly pleached
£170 to £280 per tree
Younger, thinner but great for patient gardens.
Fully pleached
£280 to £450 per tree
Dense, instant, two to three years trained.
Premium specimens
£450 to £850+ per tree
Includes Magnolia grandiflora, larger holm oak frames and specialist evergreens.
Prices are supply-only. Planting and ground preparation are separate.
Planting and installation costs
Professional planting ensures perfect alignment, correct mound height on clay soils and strong staking.
Planting and labour:
£120 to £250 per tree
(depends on tree size, soil, access and number of trees)
Additional factors:
clay soil improvement
mound planting
irrigation lines
removal of old shrubs
drainage installation
limited access requiring more labour
Why we do not offer fixed online pricing?
Pleached tree projects vary widely. Costs depend on:
species and frame size
whether the tree is freshly or fully pleached
access (side passage, steps, terraced gardens)
garden length and number of trees
soil type, clay conditions and drainage needs
planter versus in-ground planting
These differences can shift costs significantly, so tailored quotes are essential.
Phone us for an accurate quote
A quick call allows us to give you an accurate estimate once we know:
preferred species
frame size
boundary length
access details
postcode (for soil type and delivery)
You can also send us a photo of your boundary for fast guidance.
Species sorted by clay soil tolerance
London Clay dominates south west London and Surrey, so species selection matters.
Excellent clay tolerance
Hornbeam
Holly
Cherry laurel
Lime
Holm oak
Moderate clay tolerance
Beech
Ornamental pear
Magnolia
Loquat
Sweet gum
Crab apple
Poor clay tolerance
Photinia × fraseri
Planting pleached trees in clay soil
Clay needs good structure and drainage, grit causes a perched water table where water pools above the planting hole. It worsens drainage rather than improving it.
What works
wide, shallow planting pits
fractured sides and base
30–40% organic matter
planting on shallow mounds
thick mulch
drainage installation where needed
Common problems and how to fix them
aphids and honeydew
wind rock and loose stakes
drought stress and leaf scorch
patchy panels from infrequent pruning
yellowing leaves from overwatering
Correct watering, solid staking and regular pruning solve most issues.
Common pests and diseases of pleached trees
Photinia: leaf spot, scale, aphids
Holm oak: leaf miner, scale
Holly: leaf miner, aphids
Laurel: shot hole, vine weevil, mildew
Magnolia: scale, sooty mould
Loquat: fireblight, scorch
Hornbeam: aphids, mildew
Beech: woolly aphid, root rot
Lime: aphids, honeydew
Pear: fireblight, rust
Sweet gum: leaf spot
Crab apple: scab, mildew
Most issues respond well to horticultural soap, improved airflow, steady watering and correct pruning.
Local soil conditions in south west London and Surrey
London Clay: Kingston, Richmond, Surbiton, Wimbledon
Bagshot Sands: Esher, Cobham, Oxshott
Thames alluvium: river corridor gardens
We match species to your exact soil, microclimate and drainage to ensure long-term success.
How Flourish helps
We design and install pleached trees across Surrey and south west London, handling every detail from soil assessment to aftercare.
Our service includes:
site assessment and soil testing
species advice for privacy and structure
sourcing high-quality nursery stock
soil improvement and drainage installation
precise planting and staking
watering and aftercare guidance
Our professional credentials
Flourish Landscaping is a member of the Gardeners’ Guild and the Association of Professional Landscapers, and our lead designer holds a BSc in Horticulture. We only work with specialist UK nurseries and plant to professional horticultural standards, ensuring your trees establish properly from day one.
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