Author: Andrew Newman

Planting for privacy with trees in the United Kingdom.

The top request we get as professional landscapers serving South West London is…”Can we add more privacy to the garden?” to which our answer is always yes, followed by “What can we add for more privacy?” to which the answer is often “trees!”.

We will share with you the trees we recommend to plant that we have implemented into our landscaping schemes to add more privacy to gardens, in particular, gardens in South West London. As most of our work is carried out in South West London there are certain site constraints we often face which in turn focuses our attention on the species of trees we can plant, the size of them as well as the budget for installing them.

Let me try and pre empt some of the questions you may have…

Can I plant trees in my garden for privacy? Absolutely. It is a great way to add green to your garden and bring in nature. Permitted development is allowing people to add to the height of their properties as well as allowing a range of garden buildings and structures to be added to the garden. We have seen an increase in the number of requests about what to plant for more privacy, to screen these outbuildings and extensions and the views they have created into our clients gardens.

What are the restrictions if any, to planting trees in a garden? As we are focussing on typical gardens in South West London we use our expert local knowledge to guide you to a sensible solution for planting for privacy and our experience of having done it before. This includes understanding the local restrictions. We are not suggesting that you rush out to plant an oak tree or leylandii on your border. Apart from the fact that it might take some 20 years for the desired height to be achieved, this just wouldn’t be sensible or something you could get into a property with about 900mm side access at best! (South West London gardens for you!). So the restrictions to consider are as follows;

• Tree Preservation Orders (TPOs): If a tree is protected by a TPO, you need council permission to plant, prune, or remove it.
• Conservation Areas: In designated conservation areas, trees above a certain size may be protected, requiring notification or approval before planting.
• Neighbouring Properties: Trees should be planted a safe distance from boundaries to avoid disputes or damage to neighbouring properties.
• Underground Utilities: Care should be taken to avoid planting trees over or near utilities like water, gas, or electricity lines.
• Legal Height Limits: Some local councils may have regulations on tree heights if they block sunlight or views for neighbours.
• Site specific restrictions: We suggest trees for instant privacy and we will order them at the specific height to block out the views. The only restriction here will be the ability to get the plant into the site for planting, which leads us on to the budget…
• Budget: Where there is a will there is a way and this applies to getting the desired tree and correct tree size into the property. We can physically manage a 150ltrs root ball (maximum) without the need for any heavy lifting equipment. But if there is a particular size and specimen above this they can be craned in, streets blocked off (licenses sort with the council) and machinery brought in to lift them. This costs some serious money, time and planning. All achievable.

With the knowledge we have for the local areas we serve, we are able to advise on a range of trees that will allow you to have the privacy you need that will also fall within these local guidelines of officialdom. Basically leave it us and we will find the correct tree for your space and budget.

What are the best trees to plant for instant privacy? As we have solved this problem for our clients time and again the following trees are what we consider to be the best answer to solve privacy in gardens. It is worth pointing out that we advise on planting evergreen trees where we can and we will always make sure the correct tree is selected for the particular ground and soil conditions and location it will eventually go (If they are suited to north or south facing gardens etc). Specifying evergreen trees as opposed to deciduous trees is recommended as when the nights draw in and the leaves fall from deciduous trees (trees that drop their leaves around October – December) you will have the same privacy problem! It will just be the stem of a tree and no luscious green leaves to create privacy. There are deciduous trees which hold on to their leaves such as Beech, Oak, and Hornbeams, providing a beautiful structure and completely different colour to look out on to in the winter months.

So with all the above points considered, along with establishing the gardens size and the clients budgets we recommend the following trees that we have planted previously.

The trees to plant for privacy are:

• Magnolia Grandiflora ‘Gallisoniensis’ – The Magnolia Grandiflora is a beautiful evergreen tree, shaped as a full standard, ideal for screening above fences or walls to provide instant year-round privacy. Its dark, glossy leaves and large, scented flowers offer year-round interest. Though relatively slow-growing, it can be kept in shape with light pruning once or twice a year. If left unpruned, it can reach heights of 10-15m in the UK.
• Ilex ‘Nellie R. Stevens’ – A small, neat evergreen tree to a height of up to 8m, with spiny, very dark green leaves to 7.5cm long. White flowers are borne in early summer, followed by orange-red berries in autumn on female plants where there is a male pollinator growing nearby
• Ilex ‘Nellie R. Stevens – Ligustrum Japonicum, or Evergreen Privet, is a Japanese tree trained in a ‘standard’ shape with a thick crown on a clear stem. It grows 20-30cm per year, reaching up to 6m in height and spread. With shiny, dark green leaves year-round, it’s an excellent evergreen screening plant. Variegated varieties feature leaves in a marbled mix of dark green and cream.
• Carpinus betulus, ‘pleached hornbeam’ – Carpinus betulus, or European Hornbeam, is a popular native tree in the UK, known for its ability to retain leaves through winter, making it ideal for pleaching. With a grey fluted trunk and serrated, ovate leaves that turn yellow in autumn, it adds year-round interest. Pleached Hornbeams are often trained on 1.8m clear stems with frames of either 1m x 1.2m or 2m x 2m, providing excellent privacy without taking up garden space. Ideal for small urban gardens, these trees can be planted 1.2m apart to form an instant screen. They thrive in most soils, including clay and chalk.

Can we see the trees before they are installed or purchased? Absolutely. We have trade accounts with some of the biggest nurseries in the South West of England. When we get to the stage of planning for the installation of the trees, we will have done a lot of research with the nurseries to determine the exact height of the tree, the height of the foliage which sits above the clear stem so it provides privacy above the fence height, the size of the stem. Once this is established we usually visit the nursery if they have them in stock and this is a visit the client can come along to and ‘tag’ the trees they would like. We also provide a mock up of what the tree will look like in the garden using 3D software to give a sense of scale.

How much does it cost to plant these trees in a garden? There are many variables to consider with the price of planting a tree or trees in your garden. The price of the tree course, the number of trees, delivery, labour hours to install the tree, preparing the site (digging the holes large enough), and waste removal. Trees range from £150-£400 for the sizes we are talking about (25ltrs – 150ltrs), delivery is usually around £100, waste removal is around £50-£150 depending on the amount of earth that is taken out. We usually redistribute it back around the garden and newly installed tree. The labour hours to install the tree are around 2-8 hours depending on the amount of trees and site conditions. £40 per hour per person. So for planting one tree like a Magnolia Grandiflora, the following costs might be expected:

Item	Cost
1 x Magnolia grandiflora (80ltrs)	£150
Delivery	£80
Labour	£80
Waste	£20
TOTAL	£300

So if you’re looking to add more privacy to your garden, trees are an ideal solution, providing instant greenery and natural screening. Get in touch and we will be more than happy to help with your next project involving trees!

hello@chestnutgardens.co.uk

07930232080