I have a cotinus that's nearly 2 years old, and which was getting very
leggy (as I believe the terminology runs), instead of becoming the
thick bushy screening plant I was hoping for. It had developed five
stems, the tallest reaching about six feet. I'd never pruned it, so I
cut everything back to about two feet high a couple of months ago, and
now it's budding vigorously again.

My question is, if I pinch out those buds, would it encourage the
plant to become bushy? And if so, how do you do it - do you just crush
the very tip of the bud? Do you have to wait until the bud has reached
a certain size, or can you do it as soon as you see that a bud is
forming?

Any advice gratefully received!

Just remove the terminal bud of each of the branches when they have reached
the length you wanted.
Best Wishes.
"GR" wrote in message
...
I have a cotinus that's nearly 2 years old, and which was getting very
leggy (as I believe the terminology runs), instead of becoming the
thick bushy screening plant I was hoping for. It had developed five
stems, the tallest reaching about six feet. I'd never pruned it, so I
cut everything back to about two feet high a couple of months ago, and
now it's budding vigorously again.

My question is, if I pinch out those buds, would it encourage the
plant to become bushy? And if so, how do you do it - do you just crush
the very tip of the bud? Do you have to wait until the bud has reached
a certain size, or can you do it as soon as you see that a bud is
forming?

Any advice gratefully received!