Topiary: it's the shape of things to come The arrival in Kent of a defoliating caterpillar gives further cause for concern, and encourages us all to use alternatives to box. For low hedging, Caroline suggests Ilex crenata 'Dark Green" or Teucrium x lucidrys for a soft grey look, or hebes, lavender, santolina and rosemary. For larger feature specimens, use yew, hawthorn or privet. Jake Hobson is at the forefront of the topiary scene. After studying sculpture at the Slade, he won a scholarship to Japan, and wound up working at a traditional tree nursery in Osaka. Home again, with his wife, Keiko, he started importing "sharp, shiny stuff" - specialist Japanese equipment - and working on his organic cloud-shaped topiary. He loves to prune by hand, cutting leaves cleanly to avoid the yellow scorch marks that can appear when machine tools are used. "You need to pace yourself," the Dorset-based gardener says. Work slowly and think about the plant and its shape. Garden topiary offers volume in plant form. Jake's book, The Art of Creative Pruning (Timber Press) gives us a new look at this timeless garden art. Whether we use traditional hand tools - my Burgon & Ball shears become Edward Scissorhand-like extensions to my fingers - electric hand tools or state-of-the-art Japanese cutters, topiary offers the opportunity to express ourselves in the garden, create our own sculptures and avoid the many pitfalls that lie in wait among the plethora of garden features and statuary on the market . The European Boxwood and Topiary Society (EBTS) gives support and advice on growing and maintaining boxwood and topiary. It holds events, lectures and tours here and on the Continent, and its members include the Prince of Wales, Joël Cottin, the head gardener at Versailles, and Sir Roy Strong. The annual magazine Topiarius is issued to all members. For details of how to join, visit ebts.org. Advice from Topiarius editor Caroline Foley When choosing plants for topiary, look to their natural habit. A strong central leader is a must for cones, spirals, lollipops and standards. Think outside the box: hawthorn, filed maple, hornbeam and beech make beautiful native topiaries, though they need more clipping. Clip between now and the end of August to avoid frost damage. Don't overcrowd box hedging in borders. It needs light, air and space. Stand behind low hedges and use shears to get that sharp, tapered edge. When training large-leaved specimens such as bay, use secateurs on individual shoots to avoid cutting into the leaves. Charlotte Molesworth's topiary garden in Kent may be visited by appointment; the Potting Shed there - a studio for two people with its own secret garden - is available to let, with topiary lessons by arrangement. Contact charlotte@cdmolesworth.co.uk. Langley Boxwood Nursery (boxwood.co.uk) sells plants, lightweight long aluminium-handled shears, and a menagerie of ready-made topiary animals. For topiary courses with Arne Maynard, visit arnemaynard.com, or for classes with James Crebbin-Bailey visit topiaryarts.com. Bosch Lawn and Garden (bosch-pt.co.uk) has a great range of tools to help with topiary masterpieces. Their Isio cordless shape and edge cutters weigh just 550g. For Jake Hobson's choice of hand pruning tools and ladders, see niwaki.com; to see his organic cloud pruning and topiary, visit jakehobson.com.