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High Hedge Plants /in , /by

 

High Hedge Plants up to 8m high

A Practical Solution For Tall Screening

When privacy, structure and year-round greenery are required, standard hedging doesn’t always go high enough. For projects that require screening above a standard fence height, high hedge plants offer a practical and flexible solution. At Practicality Brown, we specialise in mature hedging that delivers immediate results, from our renowned Practical Instant Hedge™ to a wide range of taller individual hedging plants.

What Are Hedging Plants?

High hedge plants are supplied as individual, fully feathered plants, making them ideal for creating tall garden boundaries or extending the height of existing hedges. Available in sizes ranging from approximately 2 metres up to an impressive 8 metres, they provide instant presence and structure, without waiting years for small plants to grow to the required height.

They are particularly useful where above fence height is needed to screen out an unwanted view or to replace felled trees etc.

Why Choose Individual High Hedge Plants?

Individual high hedge plants are a popular choice for both private gardens and larger landscape schemes thanks to their versatility and reliability. Key benefits include:

  • Immediate height and screening, perfect for privacy and shelter
  • Dense, fully feathered growth from ground level upwards
  • Flexible planting options, ideal for irregular spaces or tailored designs

They can be used to fill gaps, raise the height of an existing hedge, or create striking standalone screens that define and soften outdoor spaces.

Thuja plicata ‘Excelsa’ – The Most Popular Choice for High Hedges

Thuja plicata ‘Excelsa’ is our most popular choice for high evergreen hedging, valued for its reliability, appearance and performance.

With rich green foliage and a strong upright habit, Thuja ‘Excelsa’ delivers excellent year-round screening and responds well to regular trimming. It maintains density even at height, making it particularly well suited for privacy screening.

Combining High Hedge Plants with Practical Instant Hedge™

For a number of projects, the best results come from combining solutions. Practical Instant Hedge™ provides immediate maturity and structure in easy-to-plant 1-metre sections for heights up to 2m, while individual high hedge plants allow you to introduce extra height if required.

This flexible approach ensures a hedge that looks established from day one, while meeting the exact requirements of your garden or landscape.

We are also Plant Healthy Certified!

For extra peace of mind all our plants are now Plant Healthy Certified, as well as being professionally maintained and supplied ready for planting, ensuring reliable establishment and excellent results.

Contact us today for more information on our hedging solutions or if you would like details of our planting service.

 

 

 

 

Osmanthus Instant Hedge growing on our nursery ideal hedge for small gardens.
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Instant Hedge In Focus: Hedges for Small Gardens /in , , /by

Choosing the Perfect Hedge for Your Small Garden

In the world of gardening, hedges are the unsung heroes of landscape design, offering a blend of functionality and beauty. For those with smaller gardens, selecting the right hedge can be challenging but fortunately, there are several species of our Practical Instant Hedge™ that could be the perfect choice for your small garden.  Whether its the classic charm of Holly, the sweet fragrance of Osmanthus, or the timeless Yew.

Our pre-formed, top-quality Practical Instant Hedge™ range is produced in specially designed hedging bags and supplied in pieces that are 1m long by 40 – 50cm deep. When replanted into your garden, these evergreen instant hedges will give instant maturity, and require minimal maintenance.

Osmanthus Instant Hedge

Holly

Holly, with its glossy, spiky leaves and vibrant red berries, adds a touch of traditional charm to any garden. Their dense growth habit creates a natural privacy screen, and the presence of both male and female plants ensures the iconic bright berries during the winter months. Practical Instant Hedge™ is available as English Holly (Ilex aquifolium) and Blue Holly (Ilex meserveae). Both hedges are relatively low maintenance, requiring only occasional pruning to maintain their shape and density.  It’s also very hardy, resistant to pests and diseases, and can tolerate a variety of soil conditions.

Osmanthus

Osmanthus hedges are our favourite choice for fragrance. Known for their small, white flowers that bloom in late winter or early spring, Osmanthus hedges infuse the garden with a sweet, apricot-like aroma. Practical Instant Hedge™ (Osmanthus burkwoodii) is a compact evergreen, making them well-suited for small spaces. These hedges require moderate pruning to maintain their shape and promote bushier growth with more flowers the following season. Their versatility extends to both sunny and partially shaded locations.

Yew

Yew hedges have adorned gardens for centuries, standing as a symbol of enduring beauty. Known for their dark green, needle-like foliage, Yews provide an evergreen backdrop throughout the seasons. Their slow growth rate makes them ideal for small gardens, allowing for easy maintenance and shaping. Beyond their aesthetic appeal, Yews also have a remarkable tolerance for different soil conditions and are shade-tolerant, making them a versatile choice for various garden settings. Practical Instant Yew Hedging is available in various heights.

In the world of small gardens, the right hedge can transform a confined space into a verdant sanctuary. They are easy to manage and enhance any environment with their natural charm; whether you opt for the enduring elegance of Yew, the traditional charm of Holly, or the fragrant blooms of Osmanthus, each species brings its unique character to your outdoor space.

Osmanthus Instant Hedge

Osmanthus

Blue Holly Instant Hedge

Blue Holly

Holly leaf and berry

English Holly

Yew Instant Hedge

Yew

 

How to order Practical Instant Hedge™

If you like to find out more about our comprehensive range of evergreen and deciduous Practical Instant Hedges, you can:

  • Book a visit to our nursery in Iver, Buckingham to view our hedges and trees
  • Call 01753 652022 to speak to our horticultural team
  • Email hedge@pracbrown.co.uk with your requirements (such as hedge length and size, species, and your location) and we can provide you with a bespoke quote.
Cherry laurel is a great screening tree
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Creating Privacy with Screening Trees /in , , /by

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.