When summer draws to a close, it's time to take stock in the garden and use the dormant season to carry out repairs to fencing.

Take the opportunity to check for signs of wear and tear; a bit of attention now may prevent whole panels from collapsing in stormy weather.

Traditional solid panels are vulnerable to damage in windy situations; if you've had problems in the past, consider changing to a more permeable barrier. Willow screens, hedges, or 'hit and miss' fencing will allow some of the wind through, making them less likely to break or collapse whilst still offering an effective visual boundary.

Willow screens are fence panels made by framing rows of willow shoots; they provide an attractive boundary in a rustic setting.

'Hit and miss' fencing involves horizontal rails attached to vertical posts, and then upright slats alternately fixed to the front and back of the rails, leaving small gaps between the slats to allow the wind through.

Try Eleagnus or laurel for a tough, evergreen hedge, and Berberis or Ilex if you'd like it to be burglar-proof.

Beech or hornbeam create a more traditional feel, and for seaside gardens it's hard to beat Griselinia littoralis, a tough apple-green hedging shrub, also available in variegated form, which will withstand salt spray and strong winds.

Happy Gardening!