Hedge plant buying guide

Hedges can play a number of roles in the garden: they can be used as a windbreak or to mark out a boundary, or to provide privacy. The plants used must therefore be suited to the purpose of the hedge. Hedge plants are designed to fit various requirements. To take an example, a classic privacy hedge is used to create a private outdoor space by forming a sort of living fence. In this case, you will need to choose an evergreen hedge that is high enough to perform this function. Various other factors must be considered including the look of the hedge, its cold tolerance and wind resistance (especially important if you are hoping to create windbreak hedging).

1. Classic hedging

2. Ornamental hedging

3. Low hedging

4. Windbreak hedging

Among all the different hedge plants available, there are a few safe bets. These plants are able to handle any type of soil, are resistant to low temperatures and have evergreen foliage meaning they won't lose their leaves in winter. Dense foliage is another important feature to look out for. Here are a few examples of good all-round hedge plants:

• Western red cedar (Thuya plicata and thuya plicata ‘Atrovirens’) is widely used in hedging;

• cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus rotundifolia) is a robust shrub that requires little care;

• Leyland cyrus (Cupressocyparis x leylandii) is a traditional option for hedges;

• Laurel caucasia (Prunus laurocerasus caucasica) is a robust, fast-growing hedge species;

• Ebbing's silverberry (Elaeagnus ebbingei) is cold tolerant and fast-growing, but requires more regular pruning;

• Castlewellan gold (Cupressocyparis x leylandii) is an interesting option with bright yellow foliage;

• English yew (Taxus baccata) stands out for its deep green needle-like linear leaves;

• Arizona cyprus (Cupressus arizonica) adds interest with its bluish colour.

You can use a variety of different species as long as they are all evergreen.

Ornamental hedging is designed to create a living fence while also adding aesthetic interest. It is often made up of several hedge species chosen for their foliage or blooms. This type of hedging can be delivered in packs with several difference species to save you a lot of time! Here are some of the most common ornamental hedge plants, all known for their strength and cold hardiness:

• Laurustinus or viburnum tinus is an evergreen plant with dark green leaves and attractive flowers in winter;

• 'Red Robin' Photinia x fraseri is often overlooked – but shouldn't be! It has decorative foliage that is bright red when young;

• Ebbing's silverberry (Eleagnus ebbigei) has a compact shape and evergreen foliage;

• Mock orange (Seringat philadelphus) has very fragrant white flowers and deciduous foliage;

• Guelder rose has deciduous foliage and snowball-like white flower heads;

• Forsythis has bright yellow flowers in the spring and deciduous foliage;

• Wegelia is a deciduous shrub with red-toned flowers;

• Abelia (Abelia x grandiflora) is a semi-evergreen shrub with unique flowers;

• 'Purpurea' corylus maxima, or purple hazel, is a deciduous tree with deep purple leaves;

• Cotinus coggyria, or smoke tree, is a purple deciduous tree or bush with unique blooms.

Ideal for borders or marking out flowerbeds, low hedge plants are more modest in size. Here are some of the most common low hedge plants:

• Wilson's honeysuckle (Lonicera nitida);

• Common box (Buxux sempervivens);

• Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii);

• Euonymus japonicus;

• cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus).

You can use one species or combine several.

Windbreak hedge plants must be compact enough to withstand wind but permeable enough to let some wind through. This helps to create a sort of filter to dampen the effects of the wind. Such plants include privet, hornbeam and bamboo (but you do need to be careful to control spread). Similarly, you can use varieties like hazel, lilac, cherry laurel, spindle or dogwood.

In rural areas, large windbreak hedges can be formed by trees. The trees that make up windbreak hedging mustn't be too compact. They must be open enough to let through some wind to prevent turbulence. Trees like maple, elm, ash, black locust, willow, lime, rowan, cherry or even oak can fulfil this requirement.

• Tree and shrub buying guide

• When to trim your hedge

• Balcony and patio trees and shrubs buying guide

• Conifer tree and shrub buying guide

• When and how to prune a thuja hedge

• How to grow climbing plants on a balcony or patio

• How to prune your trees and shrubs