Screening Trees and Garden Design UK | How to Create Beautiful, Private Outdoor Spaces
- Kerri Cuthbert
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Privacy in a garden shouldn’t mean sacrificing beauty. In fact, the right screening trees can enhance your garden design, adding structure, shade, height, and visual interest—while subtly shielding you from neighbours or unsightly views.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to use screening trees as part of a thoughtful garden layout, whether you have a small courtyard, a sprawling country garden, or anything in between.
Why Screening Should Be Part of Your Garden Design
Screening trees aren’t just functional—they’re architectural elements.
Used well, they can:
Define boundaries without solid fencing
Frame views to focal points like sculptures, ponds or seating areas
Create outdoor “rooms” by dividing spaces with green walls
Add a sense of enclosure and calm
Break up wind and noise for a more peaceful garden
When planned into your layout, screening trees make your garden feel more private, structured and mature.
Garden Design Ideas Using Screening Trees
1. Create a Green Backdrop
Plant a row of screening trees along your back fence or boundary. This softens harsh lines, adds height, and makes a lush green canvas for planting in front. Try: Portuguese Laurel, Photinia, or Hornbeam in a straight line with underplanting of shrubs and perennials.
2. Frame a Focal Point
Use upright or pleached trees to draw attention to a specific feature—like a dining table, water feature, or sculpture. It creates depth and drama in your design. Try: Two Italian Cypress or pleached Hornbeam flanking a seating area.
3. Divide Outdoor Zones
Use screening trees to separate areas for dining, relaxing, or gardening. This is especially useful in long, narrow gardens or shared spaces. Try: Small standard trees (like Japanese Holly or Bay) in containers to define patios or walkways.
4. Screen Above a Fence
Raise privacy without blocking natural light by adding pleached trees above a standard fence. This works beautifully in city gardens where overlooking windows are an issue. Try: Pleached Photinia, Hornbeam or Evergreen Oak planted 1.5m apart for a continuous screen.
5. Soften Hard Structures
Hard lines from sheds, garages, or brick walls can be disguised using trees with multi-season interest. Their texture and form help blend built structures into the garden. Try: Multi-stemmed Birch or small ornamental trees like Amelanchier for softness and seasonal beauty.
Design Tips for Effective Tree Screening
Scale matters: Match tree size to the garden—don’t overwhelm a small space
Mind the light: Choose narrow or airy trees for shady spots
Think long-term: Plan for mature size, not just what looks good now
Layer your planting: Combine trees, shrubs, and ground cover for depth
Repeat patterns: Use 3–5 of the same tree for rhythm and structure
Common Layouts for Tree Screening
Garden Type | Screening Approach |
Urban courtyard | Pleached trees + potted standards |
Small suburban garden | Above-fence trees + narrow hedging |
Long narrow garden | Trees used to divide zones |
Rural landscape | Native shelterbelt + mixed screening hedge |
Modern garden | Repeated upright trees (e.g. Italian Cypress) |
Design-Friendly Tree Options
Tree | Design Strength |
Hornbeam (pleached) | Formal, adaptable, semi-evergreen |
Photinia ‘Red Robin’ | Year-round colour, modern appeal |
Italian Cypress | Vertical structure, low footprint |
Birch (Betula utilis) | Light canopy, sculptural shape |
Portuguese Laurel | Dense screen, clips well, classic look |
Japanese Holly | Compact, formal edging or pot planting |
Combine Trees with Other Features
Shop Screening Trees by Design Style
At Bowhayes Trees, we grow and supply design-worthy screening trees ideal for garden privacy that also elevates your layout.
✔️Trees for modern, traditional, or wildlife garden styles ✔️Pleached and multi-stem options available ✔️Delivered from our Devon nursery to your door. Find Screening Trees to Match Your Garden Style
FAQs
Can screening trees be used in formal gardens?
Absolutely. Pleached trees like Hornbeam, Photinia, and Portuguese Laurel are ideal for formal gardens, offering clean lines and structured, symmetrical shapes that complement traditional layouts beautifully.
What trees work best in modern garden designs?
How close should I plant screening trees?
How do I screen a garden without blocking light?
Product Title
16 px collapsible text is perfect for longer content like paragraphs and descriptions. It’s a great way to give people more information while keeping your layout clean. Link your text to anything, including an external website or a different page. You can set your text box to expand and collapse when people click, so they can read more or less info.
$320
Product Title
16 px collapsible text is perfect for longer content like paragraphs and descriptions. It’s a great way to give people more information while keeping your layout clean. Link your text to anything, including an external website or a different page. You can set your text box to expand and collapse when people click, so they can read more or less info.
$900
Product Title
16 px collapsible text is perfect for longer content like paragraphs and descriptions. It’s a great way to give people more information while keeping your layout clean. Link your text to anything, including an external website or a different page. You can set your text box to expand and collapse when people click, so they can read more or less info.
$560
Comments