When in a pinch, control the size of flowering plants

Pinch fall-blooming plants such as chrysanthemums and hardy asters to control their size and increase production of flowers.

Pinching encourages side branching, producing bushier, stockier plants. Make the first pinch when the plants reach 6 to 8 inches in height by removing approximately 1 inch from the tip of each shoot. Likely your plants have grown more because of the early spring so adjust your pinching height accordingly.

When the resulting lateral branches reach 6 inches, pinch them as well. These plants should not be pinched later than July 4 in the Chicago area, as flower buds are formed at this time and late pinching can delay or prevent flowering.

• When planting a container, mix different heights of plants for a layered effect. Try something different from the typical tall plant in the center of a ring of shorter plants.

Include plants that will cascade over the edge. Think of your containers as large, exuberant floral displays when choosing plants.

Combine different sizes of containers in each group of containers for a good effect. A simple design of only one variety of annual planted in each container can also be beautiful.

• Espaliered plants are used for softening large blank spaces on walls or fences. To train espaliers to hug a fence or wall, twigs and branches are bent to meet design requirements when young and supple.

Carefully tie the branches in place with raffia or plastic tape. The ties should be secured loosely so the flow of water and nutrients through the stem is not constricted.

Make adjustments to ties during the remainder of the growing season as necessary. It's likely that any espaliers will benefit from pruning at this time as spring growth is well underway.

• Garlic mustard, an invasive weed, is flowering now with small white flowers. The leaves are triangular to heart shaped with alternate arrangement on the stem and scalloped edges and give off an odor of garlic when crushed. Pull the plants out and discard in the trash.

• Tomatoes have been in short supply at some garden centers. It's a good time to plant them now. They can grow roots along their stems, so plant them on the deep side up to the first set of leaves. Planting deep will help correct any leggy tomato seedlings that would flop over otherwise.

• Tim Johnson is director of horticulture at Chicago Botanic Garden, chicagobotanic.org.