We have just moved into a new home and there is a jasmine growing next to the kitchen door that gives off a wonderful scent and has lots of white flowers. I would like to ensure we have the same display next year but am nervous about how to prune it. Where do I start?
The good thing about jasmine (Jasminum officinale) is that even if you do little it tends to just keep flowering. However, if you want to train one into a particular space, or if it has become overgrown, then the best time to prune is now, after the flowers have finished.
Prune vigorous shoots back to a pair of buds to stimulate side shoots. Remove anything dead, dying, diseased, crossing or very weak. If you need to fill in empty spaces across the framework, prune side shoots back to a pair of buds and you’ll stimulate more side shoots.
Overcrowding is often a problem: cut back any flowering shoots or weak shoots to a pair of strong buds or to their base. Jasmine tolerates being cut back hard. Though it can take new shoots several years to flower again, they always recover.
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