Growing Frames Pleach Hornbeam
Harrod's award winning slot & lock system has uses far beyond crop protection cages! A customer contacted us with a specific need to provide a practical, enduring solution to training her newly planted arrangement of pleached Hornbeam trees. The trees arrived with rather ugly, disintegrating bamboo supports that were out of keeping with the majesty of the trees.
A hornbeam tree is a deciduous broadleaf tree native to the south of the UK, with similar leaves to beech leaves. The name hornbeam comes from the hardness of the timber - ‘horn’ meaning ‘hard’ and ‘beam’ is the name for a tree in old English.
Pleached trees have a very clear, straight stem and a narrow framework of branches trained onto canes. This formal training method produces beautiful trees favoured by garden designers to add architectural height and interest to a garden, or to divide into garden rooms, or for privacy screening and shade.
Using the slot & lock framework system, the Harrod made to measure design engineers created a kit of parts that replaced the tired bamboo and also connected the trees together as required. By selecting the black powdercoated aluminium tubes rather than the unpainted type, the resulting structure regresses into the foliage, providing, discreet, light-weight training and support. Where necessary the aluminium tubes were easily cut to size and joined with various slot & lock connectors - depending on the type of joint needed. The aluminium framework and stainless locking screws will not rust and the tough nylon connectors will provide years of life, meaning a maintenance-free structure.
The framework was quick to install and tied-in to the trees using appropriate ties that allowed branches to expand as they grow. The customer is extremely happy with the result - the trees have now been in place for over 3 years.
"I am delighted with my hornbeam growing frames, with this cost effective attractive solution it allowed me to train my hornbeams in to a stunning shape within one growing season"
Mrs S, Norfolk
