If you’re wondering how tall will a pleached hornbeam tree or espalier grow, I wrote this article to guide you accordingly.
You’ll also learn how much it will cost to plant one, the cost of maintain a pleached hornbeam hedge, and more.
After all, you’re planting it in your garden! Hopefully, this article has answered all of your questions!
The Height of a pleached hornbeam tree
How tall should a pleached hornbeam tree be? There are some important guidelines to remember if you are considering growing one.
You will need to plant a tree that will reach a height of at least 180 cm. If the height of the hedge is more than 180cm, you should keep a hedge at least 120 cm high.
However, you should remember that if you choose a tree that is too tall for your garden, it may not be suitable for your needs.
Generally, the height of a pleached hornbeam should be approximately 6 feet tall. You can plant two trees to create a hedge with a two-foot-wide pleat. You can also plant two or three trees in staggered rows of three plants, about 20 cm apart.
This spacing is stockproof. As for the price, pleached trees vary from species to species and growth stage. Those that have reached their full size will be more expensive.
A pleached hornbeam tree starts its life as a seedling or a cutting. It grows on a nursery alongside thousands of other trees.
This is where skilled nurserymen select the best ones for pleaching. These trees will have straight stems and healthy root stock. In addition, they will spread their crowns. During the winter, they will remain small.
If you are planning to grow a pleached hornbeam tree in your garden, remember to measure the width of the fence.
The height of a pleached hornbeam is important for aesthetic and structural reasons. In general, it should be about 10 feet higher than the height of the fence. If you are planning on growing one, keep in mind that they are prone to overgrowth and need to be topped several times in their training years. During this time, the tree will grow a taller support framework for the canopy.
Once the trees are planted, the best way to maintain them is by giving them proper water. Ideally, they should receive two or three hours of water a week, though more frequent watering during warm weather is better.
During this time, you should check the ties and adjust them if the tree is wriggling. You can also adjust the height of your pleached hornbeam tree by using a spirit level to make sure that the frames are properly compressed.
Height of an espalier
Pleated hornbeams can be pruned like an elevated hedge – a good method for height reduction. These trees grow to be about 120 cm high and 150 cm wide, making them an ideal choice for a privacy screen in smaller spaces.
Unlike apple trees, whose horizontal branches grow into each other over time, hornbeams are not subject to height restrictions. However, they can be expensive to plant.
Preferring to be planted in autumn or early spring, pleached hornbeams can be planted close together. Plant them at least two to ten feet apart, but space taller stands further apart. In general, young trees are staked along their central leader.
Prune them in late winter or early spring. However, it is not necessary to space each tier evenly. You should choose a tree’s spacing according to its potential height.
A variety of varieties are available in pleached forms. Pleated hornbeam, beech, lime tree, and Magnolia grandiflora are popular screening trees.
Pleached trees require regular spacing, and pruning is usually carried out in the winter to shape spurs.
These spurs will produce fruit the following year. A variety of pleached varieties are available for sale, including those that can be trained to any desired height.
The easiest trees to pleach are hornbeam and lime. Unfortunately, Harold Nicholson bought the wrong kind of lime when he planted his trees at Erddig, Clwyd.
He decided to replace the Tilia x europaea with Tilia x platyphyllos. A good example of an espalier is the National Trust’s double row of pleached lime trees at Erddig.
While pleached trees become self-supporting, they still require adequate support during the early stages of their growth.
Most commonly, the roots of these trees are supported by vertical posts in the ground and thin horizontal cross-pieces made of bamboo cane stakes, wires, or even metal cattle fencing. For steeper slopes, you may need to create stepping frames to guide the tree.
Height of a privacy hedge
When you’re choosing the right plant for a privacy hedge, consider the height of the shrub itself. If you have a swimming pool, you may want to avoid a shrub that might drop branches. But if you want privacy, you might consider a plant that grows in clusters.
One example is Eugenia, a non-invasive broadleaf evergreen that grows from 12 to 20 feet tall and eight to fifteen feet wide. This plant is fast-growing, so you’ll probably have to prune it periodically, so you’ll need to consider the height of your pool when selecting a plant.
If you’re looking for a privacy screen with more height than a standard fence panel, you may want to choose a pleached hornbeam.
The stems of these trees are 180cm tall, or about the same height as a standard fence panel.
They can grow up to 2ft in width and can have a slight taper. You can purchase mature trees from your local nursery or online. They are more expensive and will require expert care and maintenance.
The height of a pleached hornbeam fence is adjustable. You can trim a hedge to any desired height, depending on how tall you want it to be. The height of a hornbeam privacy hedge depends on the type of soil you have in your area.
They grow 30-60 cm or about 2ft each year when given adequate growing conditions. They can reach eight meters or more if given good conditions.
Pleated hornbeam trees are commonly used for privacy in small areas. A pleached hornbeam fence can be a great way to add height to your property.
These trees can also form a living wall that can protect a backyard from neighboring homes. They’re like a cross between a privacy hedge and an espaliered apple tree. One reason is their size. As they grow, they’ll grow into each other, making a taller living wall.
When planting a hornbeam privacy hedge, it’s best to plant it between mid-October and mid-November.
Young shrubs have plenty of time to put out fine hair roots before the cold winter months start, so planting them this early will give you a huge advantage during spring and summer growth. However, if you have to plant a hedge, make sure to check for a few things.
Cost to plant a pleached hornbeam
When it comes to plant types for your landscape, the hornbeam is one of the most popular choices. Its branches are sturdy and flexible, which makes it ideal for pleaching.
Other suitable tree species for pleaching include beech, lime, and fruit trees suited to espaliering. Other ornamental trees that can be pleached include crabapple and linden.
While hornbeams have brown autumn leaves, beech trees keep their green leaves through the winter. Both varieties are suitable for sunny or shady planting and require well-drained soil.
It is advisable to plant a pleached hornbeach tree in late fall, but you can plant it in the spring if you have a green thumb. Pleached hornbeam trees typically require staking along the central leader.
Generally, you can space the trees 2 to 10 feet apart, but taller pleached stands typically require greater spacing. You should also prune them in late winter or early spring.
Although tiers need to be evenly spaced, pleaching does not require a perfect row of trees.
Pleached hornbeams are ideal for privacy hedges, as their stem height is 180cm. They are often referred to as “everbrown” hornbeams because they are deciduous. They are also ideal for making a living wall as they are more versatile than other plants.
They can create a tree-lined walkway, and they can be used to divide larger gardens into separate “rooms”.
Because they are tall and wide, they can be underplanted with formal borders and tightly-trimmed shrubs. At the Eden Project, the white-flowering globe alliums provide a focal point for the path.
Summary
When choosing your pleached hornbeam tree, consider the type of ground it will be growing on.
Flat or gently sloping ground is ideal, as the branches will be planted on an even plane.
Then, choose the location that will be most accessible for pruning. If the tree is planted on a steep slope, it may need to be framed to accommodate the stepping frame.
For the best results, plant the pleached hornbeam in an area where it will be protected from wind and weather.