I want to plant a hedge to hide the neighbours wooden panel fence. The garden is south facing. Will the hedge grow well against a 6ft fence? Any suggestions for good hedge shrubs? Shrubs may do better than a, say, native mixed hedge with hawthorn etc...

Andy (in UK)

Depends which way the fence is facing really. Assuming it gets good light, you could look at stuff like beech (slow but smart), privet, escallonia etc. although it is spiny, pyracantha clips really well and covers everything whether it is in sun or shade - looks great with a clematis growing through it.