The UK is currently experiencing the driest spring ever in over a century, leaving in need of finding alternative ways to ensure their without relying on constant watering. According to the 's data up to May 13, only 80.6mm of has been recorded so far for the UK - 20.1mm short of the previous record low for the full season in 1852. On top of that, the Environment Agency warns of a "medium" risk of drought this summer, if the conditions continue.

Therefore, an outdoor plants expert at , has offered the over 30 million Brits who actively garden, a simple and effective way to help their flowers flourish while using less water. Expert Liam Clearly recommends a technique called "pinching out" to encourage "bushier growth, more blooms, and stronger plants".

"Pinching out is a straightforward technique where you remove the growing tip of a plant to encourage it to branch out," says Liam. "This results in fuller plant with more flowers, and it's especially beneficial during dry spells, as it helps develop a more robust structure that can be better withstand drought conditions."

The hack also works just as well for . It also enables plants to cope well when the rain returns but preventing them from becoming "leggy or top-heavy".

While the technique might sound a little complicated, it is actually very simple and only takes a short amount of time to carry out. It involves removing the soft, growing tip at the top of a plant's main stem.

What it then does is it sends a signal to the plant to stop growing tall and to focus on producing side shoots instead, resulting in a bushier, sturdier plant that has more flowering points.

It is important to wait until the plant is at least 15cm tall and has several healthy sets of leaves, before using your fingers or clean scissors to "gently pinch" or cut off around 1-2cm of soft growth.

Pinching off can be repeated once or twice more during the season when necessary to encourage even more fuller growth.

"It's really satisfying and only takes a moment, but the results are impressive. You'll notice your plant start to branch out within a week or two," Liam adds. Pinching out works best on fast-growing annuals and tender perennials, like sweet peas, fuchsias, cosmos, basil, and mind.

However, he advised to avoid pinching on plants, such as lavender or shrubs, which require more specific pruning techniques. He said: "If in doubt, check whether the plant is known for producing side shoots. If it is, it's likely to repsond well."