Jasmines are a British garden staple, loved for their vigorous growth, dense, forest-green foliage, and, of course, their heady scent. As mid- to late summer arrives, many varieties start dropping their white petals – but don't worry. Here's what to do next to keep your jasmine flowering year after year.
As a rule of (green) thumb, always let your jasmine finish flowering naturally before carrying out any substantial pruning.
'Most summer-flowering types finish in late summer or early autumn, while winter jasmine flowers earlier in the year, so the timing depends on the variety,' says Julian Palphramand, head of plants at British Garden Centres.
Before you reach for the secateurs, make sure you know which type of jasmine you're growing, as this gives you an idea of when the time might be right.
The most common types in UK gardens are summer-flowering jasmine (Jasminum officinale) and star jasmine (Trachelospermum jasminoides).
'For summer-flowering jasmine, you can expect blooms from June right through to September,' explains Melissa Quinney, garden expert at Cabin Master. 'For star jasmine, which is not a true jasmine but widely grown, flowering typically finishes around July or August. So, by late summer, your plant should be pretty much done for the year.'
This means that while common jasmines may still be flowering, most star jasmines are nearing the end of their fragrant display around now. That's when it's time to prune.
'The most important task once the flowers fade is to prune your jasmine, but timing is everything. You absolutely must do this straight after flowering,' says Melissa, explaining that this gives plants enough time to produce new growth – or, in other words, next season's flowers – before the winter.
'If you prune too late, you'll cut off the shoots that are already forming flower buds, and you'll lose the display for the following summer,' she adds. 'This is the most common mistake gardeners make.'
How to prune jasmine
Once you've got the timing right, pruning is relatively straightforward, regardless of the variety.
'Cut back any unruly or overcrowded stems by about a third, making your cuts just above a lead junction. Remove any dead, damaged or wayward shoots to keep the plant tidy, and guide new growth where you want it,' advises Melissa.
One word of caution: 'The milky sap can be a mild skin irritant, so wearing gloves is a sensible precaution,' she warns.
As for the spent flowers, there's no need to deadhead. According to Melissa, it's perfectly fine to let blooms fall naturally – pruning is the job that matters.
Julian agrees: 'Above all, the key to getting those fragrant flowers back strongly is to prune promptly after flowering and encourage a healthy framework of young growth.'
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