Garden Care Guide

Common Jasmine Care

Jasminum officinale

A fast-growing, deciduous vine grown for its very strong, pleasantly scented white flowers. It absolutely needs a support to climb (fence, pergola, arbor); because it flowers on new shoots, it should be pruned in late winter/early spring.

Hardy · -15 °C / 5 °F

Monthly care calendar

Timings are for a temperate Northern Hemisphere climate. In warmer areas tasks start earlier, in colder areas later; in the Southern Hemisphere shift them by six months.

January
  • Watering: Not required, natural rainfall is sufficient.
  • Pests & diseases: Carry out general observation. Frost protection is not needed.
February
  • Pruning: Before new growth begins, prune to control the size of the plant, clear old and weak branches and encourage new shoots. It can be pruned hard if desired.
  • General care: Clear weeds.
March
  • Watering: Water a newly planted specimen more often than established plants during its first year, as its root system is still shallow.
  • Fertilizing: Apply a balanced fertilizer or well-rotted organic fertilizer once when it wakes from dormancy.
  • Plant protection: Check the new shoots for aphids.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
April
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days. Water newly planted plants more often than established plants during the first year; the root system is still shallow.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for aphids (green or black clusters of small insects) on fresh shoot tips. If there are only a few, you can knock them off with a strong jet of water.
May
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week. Water newly planted plants more often than established plants during the first year; the root system is still shallow.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Apply mulch 5-7 cm thick over the root zone; it conserves soil moisture and suppresses weeds. Do not press mulch against the stem.
  • Pests & diseases: Look for aphids (green or black clusters of small insects) on fresh shoot tips. If there are only a few, you can knock them off with a strong jet of water.
June
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering begins.
  • Pests & diseases: Check fresh shoot tips for aphids (small clusters of green or black insects). If there are few, you can knock them off with a strong spray of water. Check the undersides of the leaves for clusters of whiteflies. A yellow sticky trap is the easiest way to monitor their numbers.
July
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm.
  • Pruning: Deadheading is good for appearance but is not essential.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the undersides of the leaves for whitefly clusters. A yellow sticky trap is the easiest way to monitor density. In hot, dry weather, look for fine webbing and stippled yellowing on the undersides of the leaves (spider mites). Washing the leaves during cool hours reduces the population.
August
  • Watering: Water deeply twice a week; prefer infrequent and generous watering over small and frequent. Water around the roots to a depth of 15-20 cm.
  • Plant protection: If symptoms spread and treatment is needed, consult a licensed plant-protection supplier or an agronomist. Plant protection products are regulated; follow local rules.
  • General care: Flowering continues.
  • Pests & diseases: Check the undersides of the leaves for whitefly clusters. A yellow sticky trap is the easiest way to monitor density. In hot, dry weather, look for fine webbing and stippled yellowing on the undersides of the leaves (spider mites). Washing the leaves during cool hours reduces the population.
September
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water once a week. Water newly planted plants more often than established plants during the first year; the root system is still shallow.
  • General care: Suitable period for planting and transplanting. Flowering continues.
October
  • Watering: If there is no rainfall, water every 15 days. Water newly planted plants more often than established plants during the first year; the root system is still shallow.
  • Pruning: Prune as soon as flowering ends. Next year's flower buds form over the summer; late pruning reduces flowering. After flowering ends, prune the flowered side branches back to a strong bud or side branch. Every few years you can renew an old plant by pruning it back to 60 cm above ground; however, flowering is reduced for one season.
  • General care: Good time for planting and transplanting.
November
  • Watering: Not required, natural rainfall is sufficient.
  • General care: Leaf fall is completed.
December
  • Pruning: You can also remove crossing or untidy branches while the plant is dormant.
  • General care: Evergreen leaves continue to lose water in winter. Water thoroughly once before the soil freezes.

The care advice on this page is general and for information only; it is not professional advice. Plant age, soil and your garden’s microclimate can change the outcome. Plant protection products are mentioned only as general information; they are regulated, and the choice, dose and timing must be decided by a qualified professional under local rules. Consult a landscape architect or agronomist before applying.

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