Espaliers are plants trained to grow flat against a support

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

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 the ties during the remainder of the growing season as necessary.

• Dry conditions are persisting so continue to provide supplemental water to any plants you have installed over the last couple of years to help them establish. A rhododendron I installed late last year has now nearly died because I was not giving it enough water over the past few dry weeks.

• Pinch fall-blooming plants such as chrysanthemums and hardy asters to control their size and increase production of flowers. Pinching will encourage 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. 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 using power equipment such as a weed whip in the garden, wear protective glasses and earplugs. The plastic line can kick up debris that could injure your eyes or sting your legs if you are wearing shorts. The line can also damage the bark of trees and strip paint off fence posts. Some equipment can be loud, making ear protection especially important if you are using it for an extended period of time. I use ear muffs when mowing the lawn and whenever I use a leaf blower.

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