How to Plant Pleached Trees: A Step-by-Step Guide

By Paul Watmore, Director at Grasslands Nursery

Pleached trees are planted much like any tree, with two extras: get the spacing right for a continuous screen, and keep the training frames level and tied in. Plant in autumn or winter where you can, space most pleached trees 1.5–2m apart (centre to centre), dig a generous hole, keep the clear stems aligned, firm in, stake well and water thoroughly. Here is the full step-by-step from our growers.

What are pleached trees?

A pleached tree is a clear stem (a bare trunk) topped with a flat, trained panel of branches — effectively a "hedge on stilts". They are ideal for privacy and screening above fence height, blocking overlooking first-floor windows while keeping light and planting space below. Browse our pleached trees to see the species and sizes we grow.

When is the best time to plant pleached trees?

Autumn and winter are ideal: the soil is still warm, rainfall does much of your watering, and the roots establish before spring. Bare-root and root-balled pleached trees are lifted and planted in the dormant season, roughly November to March. Container-grown pleached trees can be planted at any time of year, but will need careful watering if planted in spring or summer.

How far apart should you space pleached trees?

Most pleached trees are spaced 1.5–2m apart, centre to centre, so the trained panels meet to form a continuous screen. For a faster, denser screen, plant a little closer (around 1.2–1.5m). The key is to keep the clear stems in a straight line and the panels at the same height so they knit together evenly.

What you will need

• Spade and fork
• Stakes and soft tree ties (and the trees’ training frames)
• String line and canes to mark out spacing
• Well-rotted compost or manure
• Mulch (bark or compost)
• Plenty of water

How to plant pleached trees, step by step

1. Mark out the line and spacing. Run a string line along the boundary and mark each planting position at your chosen spacing (1.5–2m). Aligning the stems now saves a lot of adjustment later.
2. Dig a generous hole. Make each hole about twice the width of the rootball and the same depth, so the tree sits at the same level it grew at — never deeper. Loosen the base and sides.
3. Position and align. Place the tree, check the clear stem lines up with its neighbours and the panel faces the right way, and make sure the frames are level with each other.
4. Backfill and firm. Mix some compost through the backfill, fill in around the roots and firm gently to remove air pockets, keeping the tree upright.
5. Stake securely. Drive a stake in clear of the rootball and tie the stem with a soft tie. Pleached trees are top-heavy, so good support is essential while they establish.
6. Tie in the frame. Connect and tie the training frames so the panels form one continuous, level screen, and tie any loose branches into the framework.
7. Water thoroughly. Water in well to settle the soil — a full watering can or two per tree.
8. Mulch. Spread a generous mulch around the base (not touching the stem) to lock in moisture and suppress weeds.

Aftercare

Water deeply through the first two growing seasons, especially in dry spells — this is the single biggest factor in success. Feed in spring with a general fertiliser, keep tying new growth into the frame, and clip the panel once or twice a year (mid-summer suits most) to keep it dense and neat. The stake and frame can usually be removed once the trees are well established, after two to three years.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Planting too deep — keep the tree at its original soil level.
• Under-watering in year one — the most common cause of failure.
• Uneven spacing or heights — align stems and frames from the start.
• Skimping on staking — top-heavy pleached trees need firm support.

Pleached trees or a hedge?

Not sure whether pleached trees or a traditional hedge is right for your garden? Read our guide to pleached trees vs hedging, or browse the full pleached tree range.

FAQs

When is the best time to plant pleached trees?
Autumn and winter are ideal. Bare-root and root-balled pleached trees are planted in the dormant season (roughly November to March); container-grown trees can go in any time, with extra watering if planted in spring or summer.

How far apart should pleached trees be planted?
Most are spaced 1.5–2m apart, centre to centre, so the panels meet into a continuous screen. Plant a little closer (1.2–1.5m) for a faster, denser screen, keeping the stems aligned.

Do pleached trees need staking or support?
Yes. They are top-heavy, so stake the stem and keep the training frame level and tied in until established (usually two to three years), after which the support can often be removed.

How long do pleached trees take to fill in?
With good aftercare the panels knit together within one to three growing seasons, depending on starting size and spacing. Established, root-balled pleached trees screen almost immediately.

How deep should I plant a pleached tree?
Plant at the same depth it grew at in the pot or field — the top of the rootball level with the soil surface. Planting too deep is a common cause of poor establishment.

About the author: Paul Watmore is a director at Grasslands Nursery, a family-run plant nursery near Knutsford, Cheshire, growing hedging, pleached trees and specimen plants since 1984. Meet the team →