Best Trees for Screening
Many people already have a fence surrounding their property, commonly around 6ft tall. Whilst this acts to separate land and show boundaries, if you have overlooking buildings and windows the fence alone may not offer you the screening you would like.
Stilted screening is, therefore, a great way to add some green interest to your garden and give strategically placed cover, using trees to offer extra privacy without compromising on look.
Here at Barcham, we offer a range of screening trees that are suitable for just that, and whilst they each offer slightly different qualities, they are all perfect for providing a defined yet unobtrusive barrier between neighbours. Our most popular choices are:
Ligustrum japonicum (Privet tree)
Usually grown as a shrub, we have the Ligustrum japonicum as a standard tree. Privet has dense, dark green foliage and is technically semi-evergreen; as such, it can defoliate if the temperature drops to around -10 °C for a prolonged period.
See this treeDelicate white flowers appear in autumn, adding visual interest. The tree is well-suited to most free-draining soils.
We also stock Ligustrum lucidum ‘Excelsum Superbum’ – a variegated tree privet with eye-catching, cream-yellow foliage that brightens up any garden.
Photinia fraseri Red Robin
The leaves emerge a glorious red contrasting with the tree's existing green foliage. Like the Ligustrum, clusters of tiny white flowers are born in late spring making the Photinia a real feature in a garden at this time of year.
See this tree
Prunus laurocerasus Novita and Prunus laurocerasus Causcasica (Laurel)
Laurel hedges are seen regularly throughout the UK; however, rarely as stilted hedging, which our trees can be used for. We have two varieties of Laurel available, the Prunus laurocerasus Novita and Prunus Caucasica – both with large, glossy green leaves for an all-year-round cover.
These trees all respond well to pruning undertaken at the right time of year, which helps shape and encourage new growth. Mid-late spring is usually the optimum time for best results.
The recommended planting distance for stilted screening trees depends on how quickly you’d like to achieve a screen and how much you’re willing to spend. Planting at 1-metre centres offers fairly instant privacy, while 1.5-metre centres will leave small gaps that should fill out within 1–2 years of planting.
More screening advice
Screening is a great way to add privacy to your garden without the need of an existing fence or wall. We have more guides listed below that can give you a better insight into picking your screening trees.
Still can't find what you are looking for? Give us a call on 01353 720950 or email us at info@barchamtrees.co.uk