ACTIONPLAN
NOW is the time to deal with winter jasmine. Though spectacularly beautiful with cheerful yellow flowers from November to March, this shrub is ferociously invasive. If you want to keep yours under control and prevent undesirable spread, take action now.
Jasmine has naturally drooping stems and wherever these touch the ground, roots develop at their tips. And where roots appear, shoots will follow. Thus the plant expands.
To control that, trim low-hanging stems so their tips are well clear of the ground. This applies both to free- standing plants and to those which are wall-trained.
Once the low-hanging branches have been dealt with, cut out any aged or damaged stems. Shorten over-length stems and tie in any which have come adrift. Next winter’s flowers will be carried on new shoots, which will grow over the coming months.
If you want more jasmine plants, propagate them by allowing a few hanging stems to reach the ground. Once these have grown roots, snip the stems to break the tie with the parent, and dig up your new plant. Re-plant it or pot it up straight away.