So you've planted the new hedge and it is time to ask "how do I form a new hedge"

Year 1: Cut back new plants by one third immediately after planting or in the first spring after planting and shorten back any long lateral shoots by 50%. To encourage strong growth throughout the growing season pay very close attention to the watering and do not allow the plants to dry out.

Year 2: Cut back again by 30-50% of the new growth. This can be done in the winter or the spring. This encourages the plants to produce more

dense growth. If the plants have not performed well in the first season you may not have seen huge amounts of growth, the roots will have been growing however and are getting ready to push on next year

Year 3/4: The plants shoulde be well established now and beginning to fill out. Now is the time to begin forming the shape of the hedge. A well formed hedge should be wider at the bottom than it is at the top giving it a tall "A" shaped profile". This oblique angle to the sides is called the batter at it is this that helps to reduce the likelihood of damage from strong winds or heavy snow loading. The top of the hedge can be flat or shaped with a defined ridge or curved top. It is more normal for very formal hedges of Yew (Taxus) or Box (Buxus) to have a flat top. You should aim to form your hedge with dense growth all over within 15cm (6 inches) of its' final dimensions. This allows you to cut back a little inside your desired level keeping the woody growth away from the surface. You will be ablw to keep your hedge at a manageable and desirable level for years to come.

Some very vigorous conifer species prefer not to have the leader shoot trimmed when they are young and prefer to reach for the skies! You should clip the sides as suggested above and stop the tops when they are within 30cm (12 inches) of the final desired height. This will give you time to create dense growth without having to cut back into old wood.