Container Gardening Complete

Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 152 5/24/17 12:13 PM
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete
Job:06-700309 Title: CPS - Container Gardening Complete

700309 - ContainerGardens_001-272_FINAL.indd 153 5/24/17 12:13 PM

152 chapter 3

• Pinching does not equal shearing. When
  you shear a plant, you remove every single
  growing point, leading to a plant that’s
  covered with leafless, blunt stumps. Pinching,
  on the other hand, is the selective removal of
  just a few plant stems.


• Use a sharp pair of scissors or pruners for
  tougher stems. Though the term pinching
  comes from the fact that, traditionally,
  gardeners have used their thumb and
  forefinger to pinch off a plant’s stem, it’s
  much better to use a scissors or pruning
  shears on thicker stems, to avoid tearing
  them. Torn stems welcome fungal and
  bacterial infections and are unsightly.


• Remove about^1 ⁄^3 of the total growth. To pinch
  a plant, follow the stem tip down from the
  tip until you reach a set of side-buds. Snip
  the stem off just above these side-buds. By
  removing the stem tip, you’ll encourage those
  side shoots to develop into two flowering
  stems where you used to have only one.


• A little at a time is best. Pinch off a few stems
  every week or two. This keeps the plant full
  and lush.

STAKING, CAGING,

AND TRELLISING

Whether it’s to keep heavy blossoms off the

ground, to prevent fruits and veggies from hitting

the dirt, to keep foliage from splaying, or simply

to maintain a sense of order, supporting certain

container-grown plants with stakes, cages, or

trellises preserves their form and beauty. And,

in the case of vining vegetables, staking and

trellising can also increase yields and reduce pest

issues. Not all plants need to be supported, but for

those that do, it is essential.

Hardy chrysanthemum is one common plant that’s

pinched to delay its flowering period.

Make sure your staking or trellising system is big

enough to support the mature plant. This Malabar

spinach plant is quickly outgrowing its tiny trellis.

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Caring for Your Containers 153

When to Stake or Trellis Plants

When it comes to supporting plants with a stake,

cage, or trellising system, completing the job at

the start of the growing season is critical. Better

to stake early and allow the foliage to mask the

materials holding the plant up than to tie them up

after they’ve already become unruly. If you wait

too long to provide a support system to a plant

that needs it, you’ll begin with a wrestling match

and end up with a plant that looks like it’s been

strapped up in a corset.

Install supports for containerized plants at

planting time, if possible. The stakes, cages, and

trellises will look naked for a few weeks, but soon

the plants will be off and running and quickly

begin to rely on their support system.

For the most part, flowering plants grown

in containers seldom need to be staked, caged,

or trellised, unless they are a vining plant, like

a black-eyed Susan vine, a hyacinth bean, or

a morning glory—or if they produce heavy

blooms on wimpy stems. Some dahlias grown in

containers may require a hardwood stake to keep

the flowers upright, but most flowering and foliage

plants grow quite well in containers without the

need for support. But for a lot of container-grown

veggies, staking and trellising are essential chores.

When it comes to supporting potted veggies,

always choose a system that’s stronger than

you think you’ll need. Some plants are vigorous

growers, and they can take down a wimpy

stake or cage before summer even arrives. But

remember, strong and sturdy doesn’t have to

mean unattractive. There are tons of beautiful

options, both in commercially available systems

and DIY projects just about anyone can make. The

following project is a great example of a container

trellis that’s both good looking and hard working.

Staking the plants in your container garden while

they’re still young keeps fruits and veggies from

hitting the ground. It also supports blossoms so you

can enjoy them longer.

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