Small Garden Trees for Privacy UK | Compact Screening Solutions That Work

Not all gardens are blessed with acres of space—but that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice privacy. Whether you live in a townhouse with a courtyard or a suburban home with a small rear garden, the right small garden trees for privacy can screen out neighbours, add green structure, and boost the beauty of your space.

This guide explores the best compact screening trees for small UK gardens, including slim, upright, and pleached varieties designed to work above fences and in tight spots.

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Why Use Trees for Privacy in Small Gardens?

Small gardens can feel exposed—especially when neighbouring windows or balconies overlook your outdoor space.

A well-placed tree can:

• Break up sightlines above the fence

• Soften hard boundaries like brick walls or wooden panels

• Add year-round interest with foliage, flowers, or berries

• Support local wildlife in even the tiniest of green spaces

Unlike shrubs or bulky hedging, slimline trees offer vertical coverage without taking up precious floor space.

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Best Trees for Privacy in Small UK Gardens

1. Upright Cherry (Prunus serrulata 'Amanogawa')

• Height: 4–7m

• Spread: 1–2m

• Growth Habit: Columnar

• Evergreen: Deciduous

• Best For: Spring blossom & vertical screening

Known as the “flagpole cherry”, this beautiful tree is ideal for small gardens. It offers striking pale pink blossom in spring, followed by lush green foliage that turns orange-red in autumn. Its tight, upright growth makes it perfect for screening in narrow borders or close to patios. Top Tip: Plant near a seating area for a seasonal scent boost.

2. Photinia 'Red Robin' (Pleached or Standard Form)

• Height: 2–4m

• Spread: 1.5–2m

• Growth Habit: Bushy / Pleached

• Evergreen: Yes

• Best For: Colourful year-round screens

Photinia is beloved for its vibrant red new growth, which matures into glossy green. In pleached form, it becomes a raised privacy panel that sits above your fence, perfect for overlooked gardens. The evergreen foliage ensures you maintain privacy through winter. Maintenance Tip: Lightly trim twice a year to encourage colourful flushes.

3. Japanese Holly (Ilex crenata)

• Height: 1–3m

• Spread: 1–2m

• Growth Habit: Dense & compact

• Evergreen: Yes

• Best For: Formal hedging in small spaces

Often used as a Box hedge alternative, Japanese Holly has small, rounded leaves that respond beautifully to trimming. You can grow it as a low-maintenance privacy hedge along a terrace or path. It tolerates urban pollution and thrives in full sun or part shade. Design Note: Combine with tall planters or raised beds for added height.

4. Hornbeam (Carpinus betulus 'Frans Fontaine')

• Height: 5–8m

• Spread: 2m

• Growth Habit: Narrow, upright

• Evergreen: Semi-evergreen (retains leaves in winter)

• Best For: Formal vertical screens

This slender hornbeam variety is ideal for screening above fences without sprawling outward. Its dense, twiggy growth creates strong structure, and it holds copper-brown leaves into winter, offering semi-evergreen cover. Best Planted: Along fence lines or paths where width is limited.

5. Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens)

• Height: 8–12m

• Spread: 0.5–1m

• Growth Habit: Tall, pencil-thin

• Evergreen: Yes

• Best For: Mediterranean style & ultra-slim screening

Italian Cypress is famous for its striking columnar shape—perfect for adding privacy in narrow spots or between patio seating and a neighbour’s window. It loves sun and thrives in sheltered areas. Consider: Plant in a row for a modern vertical screen effect.

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Design Tips for Small Garden Privacy

• Go vertical: Use pleached trees or trained standards to lift the screen above eye level without sacrificing floor space.

• Create layers: Combine trees with tall grasses, trellised climbers, or raised beds for layered screening.

• Use repetition: Planting multiple specimens of the same tree creates a sleek, modern look and maximises impact.

• Add interest: Choose trees with seasonal colour changes, flowers, or berries to avoid a dull green wall.

Trees to Avoid in Small Spaces

Some screening trees simply grow too fast or too wide for small gardens. Avoid:

• Leylandii – can become unmanageable quickly

• Lombardy Poplar – needs too much root space

• Large willows – aggressive roots and fast spread

• Silver birch – beautiful, but its spread and pollen can be a nuisance in tight spaces

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Where to Buy Privacy Trees for Small Gardens

At Bowhayes Trees, we offer a handpicked range of compact and upright screening trees perfect for smaller UK gardens.

✔️Expert-grown in Devon ✔️Nationwide delivery ✔️Pleached, potted, and trained options available

Explore our Small Garden Screening Trees collection today to find the perfect fit for your space.

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FAQs

Can you grow screening trees in pots?

Yes! Compact trees like Japanese Holly and Photinia 'Red Robin' grow well in large planters and provide great patio privacy.

What’s the best evergreen tree for a small UK garden?

How do you create privacy above a 6ft fence?

Are there privacy trees that won’t block light?