How can overgrown bedding plants be pruned to encourage branching?

Pruning overgrown bedding plants to encourage branching is most effectively done using hedge clippers. Hedge clippers are designed to make clean, even cuts through multiple stems at once, which helps in shaping the plant while promoting new growth from the nodes left behind after cutting. This encourages branching and results in a fuller, bushier appearance.

When using hedge clippers, it’s important to ensure that they are sharp to make clean cuts, which helps to minimize damage to the plant and reduces the risk of disease. Additionally, by clipping off the tips of the stems, the plant will respond by producing lateral growth, leading to the desired branching.

Other tools, such as scissors or a sharp knife, might not provide the same efficiency or precision for larger plants, making the task more labor-intensive. The use of hands for pruning is generally better suited for delicate tasks rather than significant reshaping or pruning of overgrown plants.