pinch back

pinch back

To prune a plant by removing the main stem with one's fingertips to allow two new stems to sprout and flourish in its place. A noun or pronoun can be used between "pinch" and "back." A: "My avocado tree just isn't becoming very full as it grows." B: "Have you tried pinching it back? You'll want to pinch back the plant if you want it to grow big enough to bear fruit.
See also: back, pinch
Farlex Dictionary of Idioms.

pinch something back

to pinch off a bit of the top of a plant so it will branch and grow more fully. You should pinch this back so it will branch. Pinch back the new leaves at the top.
See also: back, pinch
McGraw-Hill Dictionary of American Idioms and Phrasal Verbs.
See also:
  • angle
  • angling
  • freshen up
  • not do (someone or oneself) any favors
  • ask back
  • muck out
  • rescue from
  • rescue from (someone or something)
  • involve with
  • involved with
References in periodicals archive
Pinch back the "suckers." These are a stem that grows between the main stem and the branch that will flower.
Pinch back herbs to encourage branching and use the clippings either fresh or dried.
I pinch back the main shoots of coleus plants to make them grow bushier, and this also happens coincidentally when I harvest basil.
Sharron was terrified to go alone and pinch back the bike
Pruning depends on the plant - it is good to pinch back shoots of young plants to encourage branching and get a more full- looking plant.
Pruning depends on the plant - it is often good to pinch back the shoots of young plants in order to encourage branching and get a more full-looking plant.
When the plants reach about 20cm tall, pinch back the stems to just above the second set of leaves.
"The hope is for Piers and Susanna to build on the show's growing ratings and to pinch back viewers from BBC Breakfast."
The hope is for Piers and Susanna to build on the show's growing ratings, and to pinch back viewers from BBC Breakfast."
After planting, it also pays to pinch back weak or spindly shoots to encourage strong young growth.
Clegg got on the field for his second 'debut' after rejoining Newcastle from Harlequins, but it was Sale controlling the scoreboard as Macleod regained his kicking range to pinch back the lead, slotting a penalty from out in front.
"To pinch back third on the final stage to give us a podium overall on the rally was the icing on the cake.
In the pumpkin patch, after several fruits set, I pinch back the vines, which allows nutrients to concentrate on production.
Meanwhile, in order to create fuller plants, it is important to pinch back about half of the new growth on each shoot during the spring and summer, repeating every time shoots reach three to five inches tall.
When seedling is about a foot high, you can pinch back about a third of it for a fuller plant.