Window boxes are a fantastic way to add curb appeal, color, and personality to your home. However, not everyone has time for intensive gardening -- and some environments make it challenging to maintain lush plants.

If you've ever dreamed of turning your outdoor space into a tranquil retreat, the secret often lies in creative hedges and shrubs.

You step outside with a cuppa and a sigh. Fresh air, a sliver of morning sun, the muffled rattle of the street below--almost perfect. Then a neighbour's window slides open, and the spell snaps.