Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria Japonica), also called sugi, is an evergreen conifer that is hardy and fast-growing. “This selection of the Japanese red cedar grows 2 to 3 feet a year,” Bunting says.

As a fast-growing hedge, the importance of pruning cannot be understated, as privet can quickly get overgrown and look wild or uneven. We start by looking at the right times to head out and trim ...