It can be tempting to leave star jasmine alone once the flowers fade, but what you do next can make all the difference to next year's display.
From soil maintenance to pruning in the right places, a few simple tasks will encourage bigger, better blooms on your fragrant climber next summer.
Before you reach for the secateurs, take a look at what you should do with your star jasmine after flowering:
What should you do with star jasmine after flowering?
"After star jasmine finishes flowering, the most important jobs are pruning it and giving it the right care to support healthy growth for the rest of the year," says Dr Russell Sharp, Founder, Eutrema.
"This is a plant that can look after itself quite well once established, but a little maintenance after flowering encourages stronger growth and prevents it becoming too tangled."
You'll want to prune your star jasmine right after it has finished flowering in late summer, around July or August.
"This gives the plant plenty of time to produce new growth before the colder months arrive. Shape it and remove any stems that have become messy, overcrowded or grown away from the support you want it to cover, then trim back long shoots and guide new growth where you want it to go, especially if it's growing over a fence or trellis," adds Dr Russell.
Just make sure you avoid heavy pruning unless the plant has become overgrown. Removing too much growth could reduce flowering the following year.
Top tips to help your star jasmine grow stronger:
To help your plant grow stronger, Dr Russell recommends:
- Check the overall health of your star jasmine, including the soil it is planted in. "Star jasmine prefers soil that drains well, so avoid letting it sit in waterlogged conditions, particularly during wetter weather. If the plant is growing in a container, it’s worth checking that it hasn't become root-bound and making sure it is still getting enough water during dry spells," he says.
- Add a layer of compost around the base of your plant — this will improve the soil and provide slow-release nutrients.
- Avoid using a high-nitrogen fertiliser on your plant after flowering. It may encourage an abundance of green leaves, but it can stunt flower growth.
Summer gardening edit
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Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.
