The slender stem and small head of a young tree must be related to the mature specimen it will surely become and accordingly planted. A tree with a spread of 4 feet, when planted may have one of 30 feet in about fifteen years time! With regards to the hedges, many shrubs and trees can be used for hedging purposes.

I have already referred to the fast-growing Cupressacyparis leylandii, a superb conifer for a windbreak, and any garden could do with the good old beech. The tree turns such a lovely green in summer and the glorious golden-brown of the leaves in winter is a constant source of pleasure.

Those who own property that has cattle in it, should consider a boundary hedge. Hawthorn may not be the best to keep out children, dogs, etc. But there are many options easily available. Lonicera nitida, the Chinese Honeysuckle, makes a line dense hedge, likewise Chumnecypari: lawswziana  or Lawson`s Cypress and, of course, yew, although slow-growing.

The advantage of all the options mentioned is that they need clipping only once a year. In the case of the ubiquitous privet, green or golden, the trimming and clipping has to be done at least four times annually. The quick- growing hedge varieties are in a class of their own.

For hedges within the garden, there is hardly anything in comparison to the flowering shrubs like forsythias, berheris, flowering currant, fuchsias, pyracantha and taller-growing roses like Queen Elizabeth. The color that these add to the garden is always welcome. If the shrubs chosen for such purposes are deciduous, they are less effective as a screen in winter. Indeed, a flowering hedge can add much gaiety to a garden.