Apart from “What plants/vegetables do I grow?”, the most common query I receive from beginners is whether cutting back or pinching is the best technique for encouraging stronger blooming.
To be fair, they both have their upsides and downsides, and are useful in their own unique ways.
In this article, I’m going to walk you through the reasons why picking the right technique matters and what flowers, in particular, it can be useful for. Trust me, all you rookie gardeners are going to love this one!
Let’s jump right into it, shall we?
Why It Matters? Well, The Right Technique Makes A Big Difference!
Both pinching and cutting help create bushier, fuller, and more productive plants. In that way, they have the same effect.
However, using the wrong method significantly slows down growth and even reduces bloom quantity to some extent.
So, despite what you might be told, using the right technique really does make a difference.
Pinching Vs Cutting – What’s The Difference?
Well, pinching is generally a much gentler way of encouraging bushiness.
You usually use your fingers to remove the top set of leaves or the growing tips, and encourage side branching as well as more vigorous blooming. Pinching works best for soft-stemmed annuals that are ideally in their early stages of growth.
Cutting back is a stronger, more aggressive approach that’s often used to achieve a fuller second flush.
It typically involves the use of scissors or pruners to remove longer stems or entire sections to stimulate new growth, helping established perennials rejuvenate after blooming.
Flowers That Benefit Most From Pinching
1: Zinnias
Pinch zinnias when the plant is about 6 inches tall. This encourages dense branching and dozens more blooms per plant throughout the season.
2: Cosmos
Remove the top few inches of cosmos plants early to prevent leggy stems. Pinched cosmos grow bushier and hold up better during strong wind or rain.
3: Snapdragons
Believe it or not, pinching snapdragons can actually double their flowering stems. However, you want to do this once they’ve grown 4-6 true leaves for a fuller, upright growth habit.
4: Marigolds
Pinching early in the season helps marigolds fill out faster and bloom more evenly. You’ll get compact plants that bloom nonstop until frost. And, trust me, it’s one heck of a sight to look at.
5: Coleus
Although coleus is typically grown for its foliage, pinching it keeps the plant from becoming too tall and floppy. It also prevents premature flowering, which can slow down leaf production.
Flowers That Respond Best To Being Cut Back
1: Salvia (Perennial Types)
Cut back your salvias by half after the first flush of flowers fades. This encourages fresh foliage growth and a strong second round of blooms in the late summer
2: Catmint (Nepeta)
Give catmint plants a firm trim right after blooming to keep the mound tidy and trigger a full rebloom. Don’t be afraid to cut it back hard because it bounces back pretty fast.
3: Yarrow (Achillea)
Cut back yarrows to just above the foliage once the delicate flowers start to brown. It promotes a cleaner look and often a lighter second bloom later on in summer.
4: Geranium (Cranesbill)
After the first flush, cut the whole geranium plant back to a few inches above the crown. It will regrow quickly and may flower again if you water it regularly.
5: Coreopsis
Once the early coreopsis blooms fade, a mid-season cut back helps extend its flowering period. Use clean pruners and cut back the plant by one-third to stimulate new buds.
A Few That Don’t Like Either Technique (Let Them Grow Naturally)!
Flowering plants like coneflowers, foxgloves, bleeding hearts, and columbines actually don’t prefer either technique. Fortunately or unfortunately, you have to let them grow naturally with minimal interference.
As a matter of fact, excessive interference and pruning too often can lead to poor flowering results with these plants. Once you plant them, I’d suggest you leave them alone to grow in peace!
Let’s Conclude
Now, I’ll be honest, if I had a dollar for every time someone asked whether cutting back or pinching is better, I’d probably have enough for a new set of pruners by now.
On a serious note though, both techniques are valid in their own regard. It would be very stupid and ignorant of me to say cutting back is better than pinching in every case, no matter the reasoning I provide, because that’s just not true whatsoever.
Embrace the solitude and freedom of personal preference in gardening, and make that decision for yourself, considering aspects like the flower you’re working with and what the circumstances look like. I’ve given you the general guidelines; now it’s time for you to experiment and make the right decision. Good luck!
