Trees and Hedges for Privacy

Screening Trees & Privacy Trees Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow & Meath

Pleached Trees, Mature Hedging & Garden Screening

Many homeowners contact us because their gardens feel overlooked by neighbouring houses or nearby roads. This is particularly common in suburban areas across Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and Meath where houses are built close together.
Small Garden with Pleached Trees, Cabinteely, Dublin
Small Garden with Pleached Trees, Cabinteely, Dublin
Hedges creating privacy. Ranelagh, Dublin
Hedges creating privacy. Ranelagh, Dublin

Carefully chosen screening trees or hedging can completely change how a garden feels, creating natural privacy while adding structure and greenery.

Rather than building taller walls or fences, planting provides a softer and more attractive solution that improves the overall design of the garden.

LandArt specialises in sourcing and installing mature screening trees, pleached trees and structured hedging, allowing gardens to feel private almost instantly.

Create Instant Privacy with Mature Trees

Many people want privacy now, not in five or ten years.

By planting mature pleached trees, standard trees or large hedging, we can create an immediate natural screen that blocks overlooking from neighbouring houses.

Most garden fences are around 1.8 metres high, which rarely blocks views from windows. Carefully positioned trees allow us to create privacy above the fence line while keeping the garden open and natural.

LandArt supplies and installs large screening trees across Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and Meath, helping transform exposed gardens into private spaces.

Pleached Trees for Privacy

Pleached or espalier trees are one of the most effective ways to create privacy in modern gardens.
Pleached screening trees installed to create privacy in a garden in Castleknock, Dublin. These trees clearly block the neighbour’s upstairs windows.
Before After
The trees are trained on a frame so the branches form a flat screen of foliage above the fence line. When planted in a row, they create what is often described as a “floating hedge”.
Because the foliage sits above the boundary wall or fence, pleached trees are particularly useful where neighbouring houses overlook the garden from upper floor windows.
Evergreen species such as Photinia ‘Red Robin’, Holly, Prunus Novita, Prunus Brenelia and Elaeagnus provide year round screening. Deciduous trees such as Beech and Hornbeam also work beautifully and provide seasonal interest.
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Before After

Pleached trees create a clean architectural look while providing excellent privacy

Small Garden with Pleached Trees, Cabinteely, Dublin
Pleached Photinia Red Robin screening trees combined with hedging and planting to create garden privacy in Rathgar, Dublin.
Hedges creating privacy. Ranelagh, Dublin
Pleached screening trees installed to create privacy above the boundary fence in Carrickmines, Dublin 18.

Create Instant Privacy with Mature Trees

If your garden feels exposed or overlooked, we can help you create a natural privacy screen using mature trees or hedging.
Dean Lacey, founder of LandArt, personally carries out planting consultations across Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and Meath, assessing your garden and recommending the most suitable trees for privacy.
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Standard Trees for Privacy

Standard trees bring height, maturity and structure to a garden.

In many projects we install large specimen trees along boundaries or within planting beds to soften views from neighbouring properties and create natural screening.

The maturity of a tree is measured by its girth rather than its height. Trees with a larger girth create a much more established appearance and help new gardens feel settled from the beginning.

Choosing the correct species for soil, sunlight and drainage conditions is essential for long-term success.

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Standard bay trees planted to create privacy in a landscaped garden in Ballsbridge, Dublin.
Standard bay trees planted to create privacy in a landscaped garden in Ballsbridge, Dublin.
Standard Prunus ‘Brenelia’ trees planted to create garden privacy in Blackrock, Dublin.
Standard Prunus ‘Brenelia’ trees planted to create garden privacy in Blackrock, Dublin.
Birch trees and hedging planted to create privacy in a family garden in Mount Merrion, Dublin.
Birch trees and hedging planted to create privacy in a family garden in Mount Merrion, Dublin.
Photinia Red Robin standard trees planted to create privacy from neighbouring houses in Malahide, Dublin.

Hedging remains one of the most traditional and effective ways to create privacy in Irish gardens.

Large, mature hedges can be installed along rear garden boundaries or front gardens, providing immediate screening from neighbouring houses or the street.

Unlike walls or fences, hedges create living boundaries that soften the garden environment while supporting wildlife.

Popular hedging options include:

  • Genolia Laurel
  • Yew
  • Portuguese Laurel
  • Bamboo
  • Bay Laurel
  • BeechLaurel
  • Photinia ‘Red Robin’
  • Griselinia
  • Holly
  • Elaeagnus
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Privacy Hedging

Genolia hedging planted to create privacy in a landscaped garden in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.
Genolia hedging planted to create privacy in a landscaped garden in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.
Portuguese laurel hedging planted to create privacy in a large family garden in Foxrock, Dublin 18.
Portuguese laurel hedging planted to create privacy in a large family garden in Foxrock, Dublin 18.
Hedging planted to provide privacy in a front garden in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.
Hedging planted to provide privacy in a front garden in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4.

Each species has different growth rates and maintenance requirements, so selecting the right hedge depends on the style of garden and the level of maintenance desired.

When mature hedging is installed correctly, it can provide instant privacy while blending naturally with the surrounding planting.

Screening TypeBest ForTypical HeightPrivacy Speed
Pleached TreesPrivacy above fences2.5–4mInstant
Standard TreesHeight and structure3–6mInstant
HedgingDense boundary screening1.5–3mInstant
Trees and Hedges for Privacy
Pleached Prunus ‘Novita’ trees installed to create evergreen privacy screening in Clontarf, Dublin 3

Professional Tree Planting & Installation

Installing mature screening trees requires careful preparation to ensure they establish successfully.

At LandArt we provide a specialist tree planting service across Dublin, Kildare, Wicklow and Meath, ensuring each tree is positioned, staked, braced and planted correctly for long-term health and stability.

Our planting process includes:

  • Soil preparation and drainage checks
  • Correct planting depth for the root ball
  • Structural staking
  • Careful spacing to maximise privacy


These details help ensure your screening trees establish quickly and remain stable, even in exposed gardens.

Trees and Hedges for Privacy - Professional Tree Planting
Pleached Photinia Red Robin screening trees combined with hedging and planting to create garden privacy in Rathgar, Dublin.
Dean - LandArt

Arrange a Consultation with Dean

At LandArt, every planting project begins with expert advice and thoughtful design.

Consultations are carried out by Dean Lacey, founder of LandArt, award-winning landscape designer and horticulturalist.

Dean is a Bloom Gold Medallist for large garden design, and LandArt has received Best of Houzz for Design and Service (2025 & 2026). Our work has also been featured in House and Home Magazine, The Irish Independent and The Irish Garden Magazine.

With over 165 five-star Google reviews, clients regularly highlight our attention to detail and planting expertise.

Whether you’re planning screening trees, hedging or privacy planting, our team ensures your garden is designed and planted to thrive for years to come.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Privacy Trees & Hedging

Evergreen species such as Photinia ‘Red Robin’, Portuguese Laurel, Elaeagnus, Prunus Novita and Holly provide excellent year-round privacy. Pleached trees are particularly effective for creating privacy above fence height in suburban gardens.
Currently there is no specific legislation governing hedge height in residential gardens. Trees and hedges are considered living boundaries, though we always recommend maintaining them at a reasonable height to avoid neighbour disputes.
A standard tree has a natural canopy on a clear stem. A pleached tree is trained on a frame to form a flat screen of foliage, making it ideal for privacy in narrow gardens.
Pleached trees are typically spaced 1.2–1.8 metres apart so the frames connect and form a continuous screen.
Because LandArt specialises in mature tree planting, privacy is often instant, though full root establishment typically takes around two growing seasons.
Trees and Hedges for Privacy
Standard trees planted within layered planting to provide screening and structure in this garden in Foxrock, Dublin 18.
We would love to speak to you about creating your perfect outdoor space, so get in touch today
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Recently completed landscaping projects

If you need some inspiration why not check out our all our latest landscaping and design projects in the garden design gallery.

We have before and after garden pictures which may help give you an idea of how we could transform your garden. If you live in a built up area have a look at the urban and small garden design projects, but we also have specialise in large and period garden design projects which are on show there too.

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