Which hedge shape is recommended for formal hedges?

• A. V-shape
• B. rounded
• C. inverted V
• D. rectangular

Answer: (C)

Formal hedges look best when they read as architectural and well-defined, with a silhouette that remains consistent along the length of the border. The inverted V shape gives a crisp, balanced profile: it forms a clear peak at the top while the sides slope evenly, which makes the hedge easy to prune into a precise outline and keeps the lower portion dense for a clean boundary. This shape reads as quite structured in a formal garden and tends to maintain its neat appearance after regular clipping. Rounded shapes read as softer and more casual, a regular V can look less uniform at the crown, and rectangular forms, while formal, can appear heavy and require more frequent maintenance to preserve sharp corners. So the inverted V best achieves that formal, architectural look.