Formal Hedges are useful for boundaries, screens and windbreaks

• Beech, copper beech, laurel, Portuguese laurel, yew and box are perfect for formal hedging.

• When clipped into shape, in both large and small gardens, they can create beautiful natural screens and windbreaks.

• In a large garden, you can create ‘rooms’ and link them with arches.

• Formal hedges can be clipped back to reduce the amount of space they take up.

• The dark needles of yew (Taxus Baccata) or the shiny foliage of laurel (Prunus Laurocerasus) make a good background for an ornamental garden.

• Box (Buxus Sempervirens) provide a low, formal edge to the vegetable or along the sides of paths.