Pleaching: is a method of training trees to produce a narrow screen or hedge by tying in and interlacing flexible young shoots along a supporting framework. Use this technique to make walks, arbours, tunnels and arches.

Always select young, whippy plants that are more easily trained for pleaching. Plant in winter and during early years also prune in the winter when plants are leafless and dormant. Train and tie new shoots in over the summer. Once pleached trees have reached their full extent, prune in the summer, pruning to shape the tree growth and reduce its vigour.

Espalier: Espaliers trained into flat two-dimensional forms, are ideal, not only for decorative purposes, but also for gardens in which space is limited. In a temperate climate, they may be planted next to a wall that can reflect more sunlight and retain heat overnight or planted so that they absorb maximum sunlight by training them parallel to the equator.

Please Note: measurements detailed below are approximate.

  • Espalier: Betula maximowicziana

    Arctic Birch, Dwarf Birch. Rounded shrub with finely toothed, glossy dark-green leaves, turning yellow or red in autumn. Yellow-brown catkins in spring. Height 60cm. Spread 1.2m. Deciduous. Hardy.

  • Espalier: Carpinus betulus

    Common Hornbeam. Elegant shaped tree with serrate, ribbed leaves and characteristic grey, fluted bark. Height 25m. Spread 20m. Deciduous. A great hedging plant in exposed locations.

  • Espalier: Elaeagnus x ebbingei

    Oleaster. A vigorous shrub with glossy, dark evergreen leaves, silvery beneath. Fragrant creamy white flowers followed by orange speckled silver fruit. Great for hedging in windy sites. Height 4m. Spread 4m. Evergreen. Clip annually for hedging.

  • Espalier: Elaeagnus x ebbingei 1/2 Std

    Oleaster. A vigorous shrub with glossy, dark evergreen leaves, silvery beneath. Fragrant creamy white flowers followed by orange speckled silver fruit. Great for hedging in windy sites. Height 4m. Spread 4m. Evergreen. Clip annually for hedging.

  • Espalier: Elaeagnus x ebbingei Viveleg 3/4 Std

    Oleaster. A vigorous shrub with glossy, dark evergreen leaves with golden yellow margins, silvery beneath. Creamy white flowers followed by orange speckled silver fruit. Flowers from September to October. Fruit colour: orange. Fruits from February. Evergreen. A more dramatic version of Gilt edge and more vigorous. Clip annually to shape.

  • Espalier: Ilex maximowicziana Kanehirae

    A rare Japanese holly. Fairly quick grower. Size: 250cm. Hardy.

  • Espalier: Ilex mutchagara Nellie R Stevens

    Holly. Evergreen shrub. Fast growth. Smooth, dark glossy leaves with a few spikes contrast well with the orange-red berries in autumn. Abundant white-cream flowers in May-April. Big, shiny scarlet fruit lasting all spring long. Ideal for spot screening. Provide full sun or partial shade.

  • Espalier: Photinia Pink Marble

    An upright, evergreen shrub with dark green leaves, bright red when young. Small white flowers are sometimes followed by bright red fruit. Height 2m. Spread 2m. Flowers from April to May. Fruits from August Evergreen. Frost hardy. Planting instructions Back-fill with soil mixed with peat. Excellent as hedging clip once or twice each year.

  • Espalier: Photinia x fraseri Red Robin

    Head size: width 0.8m, height 1.3m. An upright evergreen shrub with dark green leaves, bright red when young. Small white flowers are sometimes followed by bright red fruit. Height 2m. Spread 2m. Flowers from April to May. Fruits from August. Evergreen. Frost hardy.

  • Espalier: Photinia x fraseri Red Robin

    Head size: width 1.2m, height 2.3m. An upright, evergreen shrub with dark green leaves, bright red when young. Small white flowers are sometimes followed by bright red fruit. Height 2m. Spread 2m. Flowers from April to May. Fruits from August. Evergreen. Frost hardy.

  • Espalier: Photinia x fraseri Red Robin 1/2 Std

    A spreading, evergreen shrub with glossy dark green leaves, red when young. Small white flowers are followed by bright red fruit. Height 4m. Flower colour: white. Flowers from May to June. Fruit colour: red. Fruits from August. Evergreen. Frost hardy. Planting instructions: Back-fill with soil mixed with peat and a suitable fertiliser.

  • Espalier: Photinia x fraseri Red Robin 3/4 Std

    A spreading, evergreen shrub with glossy dark green leaves, red when young. Small white flowers are followed by bright red fruit. Height 4m. Flower colour: white. Flowers from May to June. Fruit colour: red. Fruits from August. Evergreen. Frost hardy. Planting instructions: Back-fill with soil mixed with peat and a suitable fertiliser.

  • Espalier: Prunus lusitanica

    Portugal Laurel, Laurel. A dense bushy shrub with glossy dark green leaves. Fragrant white flowers on pendent racemes in early summer, followed by red fruit ripening to black. Height 3m. Spread 2m. Flowers from June to July. Fruits from July. Evergreen. For hedging plant 90cm apart.

  • Espalier: Prunus lusitanica Angustifolia

    Portugal Laurel, Laurel. A dense bushy shrub with glossy dark green leaves. Fragrant white flowers on pendent racemes in early summer, followed by red fruit ripening to black. Height 3m. Spread 2m. Flowers from June to July. Fruits from July. Evergreen. For hedging plant 90cm apart.

  • Espalier: Prunus lusitanica Brenelia 1/2 Std

    Portugal Laurel, Laurel. A dense bushy shrub with glossy dark green leaves. Fragrant white flowers on pendent racemes in early summer, followed by red fruit ripening to black. Height 3m. Spread 2m. Flowers from June to July. Fruits from July. Evergreen. For hedging plant 60cm apart.

  • Espalier: Pyracantha In Variety

    Firethorn. A vigorous bushy shrub with dark green leaves. Clusters of flowers are produced in early summer followed by large berries. Height and spread 3m. Flowers from June to July. Fruits from July Evergreen. Hardy. Great against a wall, clip each year to keep tight.

  • Espalier: Quercus Ilex

    Holm Oak. A rounded, evergreen tree with dark grey bark and glossy, dark green leaves, silvery grey when young. Produces rounded acorns. Eventually a big tree. Flowers from May to June. Evergreen. Frost hardy. Multiple plants can be used for hedging in windy locations.

  • Pleached: Carpinus betulus

    Trained Carpinus on a frame. Fantastic structural tree that copes with repeated clipping to maintain shape. Elegant shaped tree with serrated ribbed leaves and characteristic grey fluted bark.

  • Pleached: Corylus maxima purpurea

    Filbert. An upright tree-like shrub with heart-shaped dark purple leaves. Bears yellow purple tinged catkins late winter early spring. Produces edible hazelnuts in tubular husks ripening in autumn. Height 6m. Spread 5m. Deciduous. Hardy. Amazing foliage colour.

  • Pleached: Elaeagnus x ebbingei Viveleg

    Oleaster. A vigorous shrub with glossy, dark evergreen leaves with golden yellow margins, silvery beneath. Creamy white flowers followed by orange speckled silver fruit. Flowers from September to October. Fruit colour: orange. Fruits from February. Evergreen. A more dramatic version of Gilt edge and more vigorous. Clip annually to shape.

  • Pleached: Fagus sylvatica

    Common Beech. A British native tree with wavy margined leaves, pale at first, turning glossy dark green. Height 25m. Spread 15m. Deciduous.

  • Pleached: Fagus sylvatica Atropunicea

    Copper or Purple Beech. A large tree with light red leaves in spring turning dark purple. Height 18m. Spread 7-10m. Deciduous.

  • Pleached: Ilex aquifolium Nellie R Stevens

    Holly. An evergreen tree. Green self-fertile holly - will berry itself producing red berries in autumn. Clip to keep in shape in September. Plant 3 to 4 m apart for a high level screen.

  • Pleached: Ilex aquifolium Nellie R Stevens 3/4 Std

    Holly. An evergreen tree. Green self-fertile holly - will berry itself producing red berries in autumn. Clip to keep in shape in September. Plant 3 to 4 m apart for a high level screen.

  • Pleached: Ilex x koehneana castaneifolia

    Holly. A conical evergreen shrub with purple tinged stems and big, serrated, light green leaves, produces scarlet fruit. Height 14m. Spread 5m. Flower colour Cream. Flowers from May to June. Fruits from September Evergreen. Hardy.

  • Pleached: Ligustrum japnoicum Aureum

    Japanese Privet. A conical, evergreen shrub with glossy, dark green leaves up to 10cm long and long panicles of white flowers followed by blue-black berries. Height 3m. Spread 2m. Flowers from August to September. Fruits from August. Evergreen.

  • Pleached: Liquidambar styraciflua Worplesdon

    Sweet Gum. A broadly conical tree with deeply divided, glossy leaves, turning purple then orange-yellow in autumn. Height 25m. Spread 12m. Deciduous. Hardy. Shelter from cold drying winds. Planting instructions Back-fill with soil mixed with peat and a suitable fertiliser.

  • Pleached: Photinia x fraseri Red Robin

    An upright, evergreen shrub with dark green leaves, bright red when young. Small white flowers are sometimes followed by bright red fruit. Height 2m. Spread 2m. Flowers from April to May. Evergreen. Planting instructions Back-fill with soil mixed with peat. Excellent as hedging, space at 75cm intervals and clip once or twice each year.

  • Pleached: Prunus laurocerasus

    Cherry Laurel, Laurel. A more dense, compact, bushy shrub with glossy green leaves. Fragrant white flowers on upright spikes in spring, followed by red fruit ripening to black. Height 3m. Spread 2m. Flowers from April to May. Fruits from June Evergreen. Hardy. Plant two feet apart for hedging and clip twice a year.

  • Pleached: Prunus lusitanica

    Portugal Laurel, Laurel. A dense bushy shrub with glossy dark green leaves. Fragrant white flowers on pendent racemes in early summer, followed by red fruit ripening to black. Height 3m. Spread 2m. Flowers from June to July. Fruits from July Evergreen. For hedging plant 90cm apart.

  • Pleached: Prunus lusitanica Angustifolia

    Portugal Laurel, Laurel. A dense bushy shrub with glossy dark green leaves. Fragrant white flowers on pendent racemes in early summer, followed by red fruit ripening to black. Height 20m. Spread 20m. Flowers from June to July. Fruits from July Evergreen. For hedging plant 90cm apart.

  • Pleached: Prunus lusitanica Azorica

    Evergreen, bushy shrub bears red-purple shoots and medium green leaves, which are red when young. In summer, spikes of small, fragrant, white flowers are produced.

  • Pleached: Prunus lusitanica Brenelia 1/2 Std

    Portugal Laurel, Laurel. A dense bushy shrub with glossy dark green leaves. Fragrant white flowers on pendent racemes in early summer, followed by red fruit ripening to black. Height 3m. Spread 2m. Flowers from June to July. Fruits from July. Evergreen. For hedging plant 60cm apart.

  • Pleached: Prunus lusitanica Brenelia 3/4 Std

    Portugal Laurel, Laurel. A dense bushy shrub with glossy dark green leaves. Fragrant white flowers on pendent racemes in early summer, followed by red fruit ripening to black. Height 3m. Spread 2m. Flowers from June to July. Fruits from July. Evergreen. For hedging plant 60cm apart.

  • Pleached: Pyracantha Red

    Firethorn. A bushy shrub with reddish stems and glossy dark green leaves. Clusters of white flowers are produced in early summer followed by scarlet berries. Height 4m. Spread 5m. Flowers from June to July. Fruits from July Evergreen. Hardy. Shelter from cold drying winds. Planting instructions Back-fill with soil mixed with peat and a suitable fertiliser.

  • Pleached: Quercus Ilex

    Holm Oak. A rounded, evergreen tree with dark grey bark and glossy, dark green leaves, silvery grey when young. Produces rounded acorns. Eventually a big tree. Flowers from May to June. Evergreen. Frost hardy. Multiple plants can be used for hedging in windy locations.

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