There’s a particular kind of comfort that comes from privacy in the garden. It’s not about shutting the world out — it’s about creating a space where you can relax with family and friends. A place for morning coffee in your dressing gown, a quiet chat on the patio, or the simple pleasure of looking out at green rather than fences.
If you’re searching for trees for privacy in the UK, you’re in the right place. Below, we’ll walk you through the best screening options — but in a way that’s actually useful when you’re shopping: by shape and form first, then by the varieties we recommend again and again. And if you’re hoping for fast results, we’ll cover that too — including spacing guidance, what “instant screening” really means, and how our delivery and planting service can help you get it right first time.
A quick note on delivery and planting
At Earlswood, we offer delivery and planting through a 10 county radius of our base here on the Warwickshire/West Midlands border, If you’re just outside that area, it’s still worth getting in touch — we’ll always try to advise on the next best step.
For larger specimen trees, we can also arrange crane/Hiab support where access or weight requires it.
What makes a good screening tree?
A good screening tree is usually one (or more) of the following:
- Evergreen (for year-round cover)
- Dense (so it blocks views, not necessarily light)
- Suitable for your space (height and spread matter)
- Happy in your soil (and not constantly struggling)
- Manageable (so it doesn’t become a problem in five years)
- Evergreen vs deciduous: which is best for privacy?
If privacy is the main goal, evergreens are usually the winner — they keep their leaves through winter, which is exactly when many gardens feel most exposed.
Fast growth vs instant impact (and what to expect)
“Fast-growing” doesn’t always mean “fast privacy”.
If you want the quickest route to screening, you have three main options:
- Choose a naturally dense evergreen
- Plant larger, more mature stock (instant height)
- Use pleached/espalier forms (privacy at head height straight away)
Standard trees (lollipop shapes): privacy with a clear stem
Standard trees are the ones with a clear stem (often around 1.8–2m) and a rounded or slightly cylindrical head.
They’re a lovely choice when you want:
- Privacy at seating level without blocking light at ground level
- A neat, structured look along a boundary
- Screening that still feels airy and garden-like
- Contemporary feel that doesn’t feel crowded, for the greatest effect plant in odd numbers and in repetition
Our go-to best sellers for this look (the ones we recommend all the time) often include evergreen options that hold their shape beautifully.
And yes — if you’re choosing standards for screening, we can help with delivery and planting, so they go in straight, stable and well-watered from day one.
Espalier and pleached trees: screening without losing space
If you want privacy but you don’t want a thick hedge eating into the garden, espalier and pleached trees are hard to beat.
Espalier trees are trained flat (great against fences and walls).
Pleached trees are trained into a panel of foliage on a clear stem — like a living privacy screen.
Size options
Pleached trees are available in different heights and panel sizes, so you can choose what suits your boundary and the level you need privacy at.
Our Top Choices
We’ll always guide you to the best option for your garden, but evergreen pleached trees are especially popular for year-round screening.
We can also support with delivery and planting for pleached trees (and arrange crane/Hiab support for larger sizes where access requires it).
Fully feathered trees and mature hedging: the fastest route to a green boundary
If you want the most immediate sense of privacy, this is where the magic happens. Fully feathered trees have foliage much lower down the stem, so they give you cover from the ground up.
Mature hedging is exactly what it sounds like: bigger, established plants that create a boundary quickly.
Our instant-impact favourites
These are the kinds of plants that make a garden feel settled fast — and they’re ideal if you’re working to a timeline.
Again, we can help with delivery and planting so your screening is set up for success from the start.
Bamboo for a tropical screen (best used thoughtfully)
If you love a more exotic feel, bamboo can create a tall, swaying screen that feels lush and modern and comes with a wonderful rustle.
A quick word of advice: bamboo is fantastic when chosen and positioned correctly, its a marginal plant so does need plenty of water, if it dries out it can look scorched and brown and tends to lose leaves. Some bamboo can send out runners so do ask our team if you are concerned but you will find plenty of details on each plant option. We do choose bamboo that clumps but doesn’t run on the hole.
Decorative screening: cones, pyramids and statement evergreens
If you want privacy and something a little more design-led, consider using screening plants that double as features.
Cones and pyramids
Cone and pyramid forms bring instant structure — especially near entrances, patios, or to frame a view.
Multi-stem and parachute forms
For a softer, more natural feel, multi-stem or parachute evergreens can give you screening with character.
These shapes are perfect when you want the boundary to feel planted and beautiful — not just practical.
Conifers for fast and classic cover
If speed is the priority, conifers are often the first place people look.
Thuja
Thuja varieties are popular because they can be:
- Dense
- Neat
- Fast enough for most gardens without feeling unruly
Leylandii (for very fast growth)
Leylandii is famously quick — and it can work well — but it needs commitment.
If you choose it, plan for:
- Regular, controlled trimming
- Sensible planting distances
- Keeping it at a manageable height
Used well, it’s effective. Left unchecked, it can become the thing you’re screening from.
Spacing guide: How far apart to plant screening trees
Spacing depends on the plant, the size you’re buying, and how quickly you want the screen to knit together. If you’re unsure, it’s always better to ask before planting — spacing is one of the biggest factors in whether screening looks lush and seamless, or thin and patchy.
Delivery and planting: How Earlswood can help
Bigger plants bring bigger impact — but they also need a bit more planning. We offer delivery and planting within a 10 county radius of our UK base. For larger trees, we can also arrange crane/Hiab support where needed — particularly if access is tight or the tree needs to be lifted over obstacles but we will need a detailed description first so we know exactly what we are dealing with and bring all the correct ’tools for the job’
Quick FAQs
Are pleached trees good for privacy?
Yes — pleached trees are one of the best ways to get privacy at head height without sacrificing ground space.
Do you offer delivery and planting?
Yes. Earlswood offers delivery and planting within a 10 county radius of our UK base – state counties
Can Earlswood offer me advice and planning ?
Yes, our team can offer advice – phone/email, garden curator or design service and use for each
Ready to create privacy that feels natural?
If you’d like help choosing the right screening trees — whether you want standards, pleached panels, mature hedging or a tropical bamboo screen — get in touch with us on 01564702314 or email us on info@earlswoodglc.co.uk
We’ll help you choose well, space it properly, and (if you’d like) deliver and plant it so you can enjoy the privacy sooner.
