Hornbeam ( Carpinus betulus) hedges respond wonderfully to shaping and are easy to maintain, although they don’t quite achieve the autumnal colour of a beech and the leaves drop rather earlier. A summer trim will keep them looking shipshape.

The species rose Rosa rugosa, pictured below in autumn, makes a spectacular informal hedge. The stems are prickly – so use gauntlets when you prune to maintain the shape at the end or winter or in early spring. Keep the hedge rejuvenated with new growth by removing a few mature stems right at the base each year.

Yew ( Taxus baccata) is the king of hedges. It grows reasonably fast when young, but slows down with maturity. Its classic good looks and good response to shaping and clipping make yew hedging worth the investment of time. It forms a dense, dark-green block of foliage – nothing else comes close as a backdrop for other plants. Hollies can be slow to get going, and our native English holly ( Ilex aquifolium) is no exception. It has its advantages, however, not least the prickly leaves, which make it ideal hedging material for discouraging intruders. The shine on the foliage and the ready-made supply of Christmas greenery add to its appeal.

The lovely evergreen pittosporum ‘Silver Queen’, which I’ve often seen used for low hedging in France, is now proving easy to grow in many parts of Britain, particularly sheltered town gardens. It has a compact habit and gently undulating grey-green leaves, which are variegated, with creamy white margins.

The shrubby honeysuckle Lonicera nitidahas tiny leaves on wiry stems. If you use it for hedging, keep it low to medium in height and be prepared to trim regularly through the summer months, as it tends to send out fast-growing shoots while your back is turned.

Laurel ( Prunus laurocerasus) makes a majestic evergreen hedge, working particularly well in an urban setting where privacy is an issue. The large, glossy leaves reflect the light, but be prepared to snip off individual ones when trimming in summer – sliced leaves look unsightly on the plant.

Portugal laurel ( Prunus lusitanica) is an elegant evergreen that responds well to being trimmed and shaped, and will form a substantial screen. The shiny bright-green leaves have red-tinged stems, giving an added hint of colour.

Hawthorn ( Crataegus monogyna), pictured below with blackthorn, is a small native tree that makes a good choice for a rural garden. It has flowers in spring, small decorative leaves and autumn berries that make it a favourite with birds. Clip in summer to encourage a tightly knitted effect.

A mature beech ( Fagus sylvatica) hedge, pictured below as part of a mixed planting, is a thing of great beauty when the foliage is young and fresh, as well as in autumn.The crisply dried leaves last wellon the stems – often until the endof winter.

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