How to train jasmine to climb

Jasmine is a beautiful plant to have in your garden. Its flowers are known to be aromatic, with their scent easily wafting through the air. There are a few different variations of jasmine, including those that grow as bushes and those that grow as vines. A climbing plant wall can make a great addition to an outdoor space when you’re looking to create extra privacy or a feature wall.

In today’s article, we take a look at how to train a jasmine climber. Read on to learn more about climbing jasmine.

Climbing jasmine varieties

There are a number of different climbing jasmine varieties available, each with its own distinct features. So, which jasmine is best for climbing? Here are a few options:

Jasminum polyanthum (White Jasmine)
Jasminum officinale (Common Jasmine)
Jasminum multiflorum (Star Jasmine)
Jasminum sambac (Arabian Jasmine)

The climbing jasmine variety you choose to grow will likely depend on a number of factors including the look you’re after and what’s available at your local nursery.

Planting your jasmine

Step 1: Choose the right variety

The first step in creating a climbing jasmine wall or pergola is to ensure you choose a variety of jasmine that can climb. Some varieties of jasmine grow in a simple shrub shape and are unsuitable for training to climb. You’ll want to select a climbing jasmine plant to make sure you can get the desired results for your garden.

Step 2: Select the right location

When it comes to training jasmine to climb, you’ll need to make sure you select the right location for your plant. Jasmine plants love full sun, so a spot that gets at least six hours of sunlight each day is ideal. While you can plant your jasmine in a position with partial shade, this will generally result in fewer flowers. You’ll also need to make sure the location you choose has well-draining soil. Jasmine plants are susceptible to root rot, so it’s important to make sure their roots won’t be sitting in waterlogged soil.

Step 3: Plant your jasmine

Once you’ve selected the perfect location for your climbing jasmine plant, it’s time to get planting. When you’re planting your jasmine, be sure to dig a hole that’s twice the size of the plant’s root ball. You’ll also want to add some organic matter to the soil, such as compost or manure, before planting. Massage the roots to make sure they’re untangled and place the plant in the hole, gently back-filling it with soil. After planting, water your jasmine well.

Step 1: Secure the base of your plant

Depending on the size of your jasmine plant, you may not need to provide too much support, however, as it grows you’ll want to begin training it to climb up the lattice, wall, pergola, or other structure you’re planning on having it climb. A trellis can be a great start for training your jasmine plant. Simply place this trellis next to your plant and gently attach the main trunk of the tree to it with soft ties, so as not to damage the stems.

Step 2: Don’t overcrowd the vine

As your jasmine grows, it’ll begin producing side shoots which you’ll also want to secure to the lattice. An important step in training jasmine to climb, is to make sure you provide plenty of space for the vine to grow. If the vine becomes too congested, it may not grow well. Try to leave plenty of space between each stem that’s attached to the trellis or other support structure. When it comes to tie spacing, one every 6 to 8 inches should provide enough support. Be sure to check on the ties regularly and loosen them if needed so the vine can continue to grow.

Step 3: Prune and maintain your plant

Once you’ve got your climbing jasmine wall or pergola up and running, it’s important to provide continued care for your plant to ensure it continues to grow and flower. Water your plant regularly, and give it fertiliser twice a year to maximise flower production. Regular pruning should also be undertaken to keep your jasmine plant looking maintained and uniform. While a relatively hardy plant, you may run into a few jasmine plant climber problems such as stem blight, rust, and powdery mildew. It’s also a plant that can be susceptible to bugs such as aphids and caterpillars. As such, you should keep an eye on your jasmine so you can quickly remedy any issues that may occur.

Jasmine plants are relatively easy to care for, and training them to climb a lattice or a wall is a simple skill to learn. With a little care and patience, you’ll have a beautiful climbing jasmine plant that will add fragrance and colour to your garden for many years to come.

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