Pleached or raised hedges are certainly in vogue in the garden world at the moment. Not that I am a stickler for fashion, but they really do have a great benefit to may landscape designs.

The name pleached is from the french word Pleacher, to braid or plait the branches of a tree. The technique of controlling and raising hedges, has been around for centuries, originally designed to created shaded walks for the gentry, and later moving into the kitchen gardens, for fruiting trees. A great way to keep the fruit accessible and maintained, also called Espaliered Trees.

So history aside how do these raised hedges relate to landscape design now? Well they have great qualities of added privacy, simple modern lines and form, and the use of using flowering trees, adds a great look and scent to a garden. They are best suited to the smaller blocks, that are often in need of privacy, but also that will ensure that they aren't too high maintenance. (you really don't want to be trimming miles of them).

The choice of trees to use in Queensland is fabulous, with different leaf forms, colours and textures, and growth rates, (often privacy is needed quickly for some clients). Interest can be added by mixing tree species, and heights along a length of a hedge. Even raising sections, in front of neighbours windows, and under planting with a contrasting shade tolerant ground cover. Establishment and maintenance is actually quite easy, and no harder than a hedge at ground level, you simply keep the lower branches clear. The choice of tree species will effect how many times a year the trees will need to be clipped. Olive for example you will cut once a year and leave in a more open branch style, whilst a Magnolia Teddy Bear, or Syzigium Australe Pinnacle (Lillypilly) will need a clip at least three times a year.

Trees to chose: Olive (light leaf colour open form, fruiting), Magnolia (deep green, good for shade, white flowers and scent), Lillypilly (Evergreen, inexpensive, flowering very easy to establish), Bamboo (go for Gracilis, easy to establish, modern look, very quick to get to full height), Camellias, Murraya, Fig also pleach very well.

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On a personal note it is fantastic that two of my loves are so compatible, children and the landscape. Kids are so amazing in the garden, they want to be with nature, they want to be covered in mud, to water each other (and a few plants that get in the way), and to grow things, anything, but some of the following are great things to do with kids, how they can help and how they can be enthralled by their gardens.

When I was a child I cut off a quarter of my parents lawn to grow vegetables, I have no idea why my parents let me do this, as I did make helluva mess, but I loved it, and I also won the Brownie Guide Pumpkin growing competition! so all wasn't lost. Needless to say my parents have restored their lawn to its original state.

Here's me in all my roller skating glory, proud as punch with my sunflowers (and only slightly gutted that my sisters were much taller then mine!) How many of your childhood memories are within your back garden? Cricket? BBQ's?Sprinklers and Swimming, and the day I learnt to ride without stabilisers and ended in the middle of the very English rose garden!

But this just shows that gardens can change how they grow with you as a family, and meet the needs of the children at their current age and stage. Many of my designs come with phased plans, a time for the trampoline, and then a time for the adults retreat. Small sand and rock gardens for trucks and fairies, are easily designed in to the front of garden beds, and replanted.

Fruit, vegetables and flowers are fantastic plants for children to grow, many veggies have a very quick time from planting to eating, so they are always a winner, cherry tomatoes are the best, blueberries and carrots in garden pots can be a huge hit. The idea is to have a great experience and choosing ones that produce a yummy treat are always the winner, Strawberries, watermelons and even potatoes in a bucket. Let them get mucky and eat straight from the plants...

I established The Green Boutique in 2015. In the last few years I have greatly enjoyed changing the gardens of Brisbane, one garden at a time. I take great pleasure in designing gardens for families. How they use their own land and space, to its best advantage. How they now have greenery that is thriving, as using the right plant in the right place, is an old saying but one that is still very true. Many chats I have had where a client has spent so much money choosing plants at Bunnings only to be disappointed as they fail.

On this blog, I aim to talk about my passions in the landscape, design ideas, I may even do a plant of the month!

A few of my passions that I shall endeavor to enlighten you all with, would be, the edible garden, if you can eat it you pretty much should grow it. The riot of colour that is Brisbane's tropical landscapes, how children can help and design and play and eat and pretty much anything in the garden.

I hope you will follow me on this journey......

Alison