Here are some shrubs that tolerate shearing into formal hedges relatively well. For best results and to minimize labor, choose a variety that naturally stays narrow (the jargon is "columnar") and grows not much taller than you want your hedge to be.

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ARBORVITAE: Some of these flat-needled evergreens can work in sheared hedges if trained from the second year. They must be pruned carefully, never taking off too much foliage, because they will not regrow needles from bare wood. They need full sun.•

BOXWOOD: A traditional European hedge plant, it does well in sun to part shade. Even the best varieties are marginally hardy in Chicago's Zone 5 climate and need some shelter; they may show damage from severe winters, drought or if exposed to severe winds or road salt.•

PRIVET: Long used for hedges, privet now is considered invasive because its berries are distributed to natural areas by birds. Shearing before it flowers in late May will reduce berries. It needs full sun and loses its dark green oval leaves in winter. Ligustrum amurense is hardy in Zones 3 to 6.•

YEW: This genus of long-lived needled evergreens will sprout foliage from bare branches to some extent. A good hedge variety is the columnar Taxus x media 'Hicksii.' It will grow to 12 feet or more but can be kept lower if it is carefully trained from the second year. Yews can handle sun or partial to full shade but will not tolerate wet soil.