THE expression ‘pinching out the tips’ will create confusion in the mind of the non-gardener, writes TOM ATTWOOD.

However, for those au fait with the rudiments of gardening lingo it will be crystal clear. I’m dedicating my space on the page this week to those who need some explanation; the act of pinching out the tip activates a natural response in the plant to branch further down the stem, ultimately producing a bushier plant. In the case of many flowering plants this additional branching will produce more flower power. A good example would be a hardy or tender fuchsia that if left to its own devices would in the early stages of growth become rather tall and take some time to thicken out. Pinching or cutting away the growing tip will put the brakes on any vertical growth and channel developments elsewhere. It’s all extremely clever and relies on chemicals inside the plants being switched on and off due to the action of removing what is the growing point of the plant. If you’re not able to pinch out the tip then use a pair of clean and sharp secateurs or scissors. When you remove the growing tip try to avoid any bare stalks sitting there above the next lower set of leaves as in some cases this will die back. The next set of leaves below your pinched tip are the ones to prioritise and it’s from this area and lower down that the dormant buds hidden from our eyes are activated and start to grow. It’s not only flowering that can be developed but leaf growth when for example you plant a new hedge. All the side shoots and main tips if cut back or pinched out will cause the branches to thicken. With a new hedge this is exactly what you want to speed up. When you use shears or hedge cutters to trim the plants you’re also pinching out the tips as well as developing the shape. I do hope that for the uninitiated that this has clarified the pinching out conundrum.

Next week: why grow biennials?