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• Our homes need fences all right. It gives you a fair amount of privacy, and helps keep out the unwanted.

• But lets think again before we build a high brick wall around our property. These walls can keep out the breeze too, and they don`t look all that good either.

• Lets think of a new kind of fence - a living one. That changes with the seasons, adds to the beauty of the house, is eco friendly and provides oxygen to your area.

• Does it sound too good to be true? On the contrary, it`s pretty simple.

• Settle for a low built in fence. A wooden one would be ideal, but a low brick one could look good too.

• Pick out a few fast growing trees. Do you prefer flowering or non-flowering ones? The choice is all yours. Maybe you could have a variety.

• Plant your saplings flat against the fence. Not too close together. Spread them out well. Water regularly.

• When the trees are half grown, you must start trimming and clipping the tree.

• Remove the branches that grow towards the house or towards the road or adjoining property.

• Leave the ones that that grow sideways along the fence.

• So, now you have trees growing flat and sideways all along your fence. Two-dimensional kind of trees.

• These kind of trees are called espalier. You should be able to see through your espaliers. If you can`t see through it, it gets to be a kind of hedge that will enclose your property, creating a kind of barricade.

• Espaliers still make room for adequate garden space. They don`t intrude inwards.

• Espaliers are beautiful and unusual. It gives the impression of being surrounded by nature.

• These trees encourage birds to nest in them. You wake up to the chirruping of little birds.

• They`re ideal for homes that don`t have too much garden space.

• They`re easy to manage too. Just learn how to wield a clipper.