Plants aren’t just growing at random. A lot of their shape is controlled by hormones, and one of the most influential is auxin.
Auxin is mainly produced in the top bud of a shoot. As it moves downward, it suppresses side buds. This is called apical dominance: as long as the top is intact, the plant focuses on growing upward rather than outward.
When you prune or pinch off the tip, that auxin signal is weakened. Side buds wake up, and the plant often responds by branching and filling out.
You can use this deliberately: light pruning for bushier shrubs, minimal pruning if you want a strong main stem. Even bending a branch can reduce apical dominance and trigger new growth.
More branches above ground usually mean more roots below. That extra root growth feeds soil life with sugars, helping build a stronger, more resilient system over time.
