Screening Trees
Prunus laurocerasus Novita`
Privacy in your garden can be created using trees to hide or screen out an undesirable view; they can also be used to draw the eye to a specific feature.
Trees grown for this purpose often have a clear stem i.e. no leaves on the lower trunk; they reach up to fence panel height of around 1.8-2m with a full bushy canopy above, forming a good screen above the fence line. This type of screening is particularly useful if you are overlooked by neighbouring properties or would like to retain lower level exposure to an attractive wall or area. Screening trees can be designed to create a focus point, perhaps to make the most of a feature.
Type of Privacy
It is a good idea to consider what you are aiming to screen out. For example are you directly overlooked by a neighbouring property, or would you like to filter out a large building or structure? Also consider the angle you are viewing from, as this may help choosing the right tree for your needs.
Practicality Brown’s semi-mature trees can be planted to achieve effective screening from the offset with evergreens being preferred for this purpose as they screen throughout the year. However, a planting scheme that includes deciduous trees can provide rich contrast and seasonal interest.
Cherry Laurel
Prunus laurocerasus Novita close up
Prunus laurocerasus Novita, a dense evergreen tree, is popularly used for screening due to its upright and bushy habit and its
resilience to cold weather. In April small, fragrant, white flowers grow in vertical racemes about 12cm long which are followed by small glossy, black fruit.
We have semi-mature containerised Prunus laurocerasus Novita with a 1.8m clear-stem, available now.
The Cherry Laurel grows well in most soil and conditions, preferring moist slightly acidic soil. Pruning in late spring to helps to retain its shape and encourages new growth. If planting in a row, the optimum distance for the clear stem is with 1.2-1.5m spacing.
Trees from Practicality Brown
We can supply a range of top quality trees for decorative or screening, which are particularly useful to create privacy in your garden. These include feathered trees that have full growth from the ground upwards and offer the same screening ability. A mix planting of evergreen and deciduous trees, if space allows, can be an attractive solution.
We also have a range of pleached trees which can be used in the same way; pleached trees can be effective for a formal screen and where space is limited.
