(Read Previous Design 101 here)
Pleaching is the method of training multiple trees into a single horizontal plane, or one continuous line. It is often used to create allees or hedges. More frequently seen in European garden design, the training takes dedication to clipping and time to mature. Most often the branches are clipped to expose the trunks.
EXAMPLES OF PLEACHING
A classic example of pleached trees.
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| Image from Jinny Bloom |
Hornbeams pleached across an allee of trees.
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| Image n.mccullough |
These are European Hornbeams pleached into an Allee.
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| Image n.mccullough |
RECOMMENDED TREES & PLANTING:
Trees that work well for pleaching include; Hornbeams, Linden/Lime, and Pear. My personal favorite to use are Hornbeams, but I am also experimenting using Buckthorns in my back yard. When planting you should look to 3-4 feet spacing between each tree.
Here you can see a more natural landscape with a line of pleached trees.
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| Image from here. |
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| Image n.mccullough |
From this photo you can really see the structure of the branches creating the unified green wall. This very tall allee of pleached trees is at Arley Hall in England. |
| Image from here.
I could post 20 more photos of different gardens using pleached trees, but I am going to stop myself from going over board since I think you now understand the technique. Keep your eyes out, I think you will be noticing a lot more pleached trees. |
Hi there, LOVE THIS IDEA! I live in Highlands Ranch, CO and have just recently finished building planting beds made of manufactured bricks. The beds are deep and about 10 feet long and 3 feet wide, and create and enclosed square space. I would love to use this idea but am not sure which tree to use. And which will survive the winter. I want to come up with a plan. Boxwood and the base. Trees to block the view of surrounding yards. Mostly, I want to create a intimate private space.