How to care for jasmine in the fall, preparing for winter: pruning, preparation features

Flowers

Every garden plant has its own care requirements, including jasmine. This shrub, also known as mock orange, requires regular pruning in the fall in addition to standard care. Many who have recently planted this fragrant plant in their garden are unsure when and how to prune it.

Care and preparation for winter

Jasmine is a perennial shrub, but to continually delight with its beauty and delicate fragrance, it requires nutritious soil. Lush blooms can only be achieved if the soil is rich in minerals and nutrients. The plant also requires regular, abundant watering and, of course, pruning. There are three types of pruning:

Sanitary.
Rejuvenating.
Formative.

In the spring, formative pruning is performed, removing thickening branches and shoots frozen during the winter. Rejuvenation pruning is performed every 5-8 years, as older branches will no longer produce such profuse blooms. Sanitary pruning is performed in the fall.

Why prune jasmine?

This procedure is performed to preserve the bushes' beautiful appearance, as shoots sometimes grow inward and thicken the plant, and many like to shape the bushes into various shapes. Jasmine is also sometimes used by landscape designers in compositions, and this beauty requires maintenance. Old branches no longer produce such lush blooms, but the plant expends a lot of energy on their growth and development. They also draw a large amount of nutrients from the soil. If neglected, the plant will look unsightly.

When is the best time to prune mock orange?

Jasmine is an easy-to-prun plant, tolerating pruning well and recovering quickly afterward. This can be done throughout the season: trimming frost-damaged shoots in the spring and thickening shoots in the summer. After the flowering period ends, remove any remaining buds. As for sanitary and rejuvenating pruning, it's most often done in the fall. Remove excess shoots, as well as those that will no longer bloom as profusely. It's believed that fall pruning will help prepare jasmine for the cold weather. Fertilizing before or after pruning can also help restore the plant's strength after flowering.

Note!

If fertilizer is applied after pruning, it should be done 14 days after the procedure.

Basic rules for autumn pruning

Jasmine is pruned for the first time immediately after planting. Experienced gardeners recommend leaving only 3-4 of the strongest stems. Don't be stingy with the young shoots; within a year, they will grow twice as strong, and the jasmine will be a beautiful addition to your garden.

For pruning, you need sharp, sterile gardening tools. Young shoots and thin branches can be trimmed with pruning shears or loppers. However, these are not suitable for removing old and strong branches; a hacksaw is used for these. First, use pruning shears to remove any blooms that haven't fallen, then any dead or damaged or diseased branches. Next, remove any thickening shoots. Finally, you can shape the bush to your desired shape. This procedure should be carried out very carefully, taking care not to damage the young shoots when cutting off old branches, as this is what will produce the most abundant blooms next year. Treat the cuts with garden pitch or another antiseptic to protect the bush from infections and pathogens.

Caring for a bush before and after pruning

After pruning, any plant requires careful care. Although jasmine tolerates pruning well, it's no exception. First, monitor soil moisture to ensure it doesn't dry out. If it's warm outside, water the jasmine once a week. During periods of drought and high temperatures, water twice a week. In addition to using mineral fertilizers, add mullein or rotted manure to the soil two or three times during the summer. This will provide the plant with nutrients and increase the number and quality of buds in the future.

In autumn, if there's frequent rain, watering is stopped completely. If the weather is dry, the last watering before winter is 14 days before the first frost. Watering will require 10 to 20 liters of water, depending on the plant's age. Mineral fertilizers are also added before winter; potassium and phosphorus are considered the most essential nutrients for mock orange during this period.

Note!

Fertilizers are applied before the weather gets completely cold, otherwise the plant will not have time to absorb them.

After pruning, remove all fallen leaves and cut branches from the jasmine, as they can harbor pathogens and parasites. After harvesting, spray the bush with copper-containing preparations as a preventative measure.

Organizing shelter for the winter

Jasmine is considered a frost-hardy plant; there are varieties that can withstand even severe frosts. In the southern regions of the country, the plant requires no cover, while in temperate climates, some varieties require shelter. Young shrubs are more susceptible to frost, so it's best to cover them during the first few years.

The soil around the tree trunk is first dug over, then mulched with a thick layer (20 cm) of rotted manure or peat. Mulch protects the roots from freezing, as they are more susceptible to cold. The plant can be covered with any covering material.

Winter preparation specifics depending on the region

Jasmine can grow almost anywhere in Russia, and its care is generally the same. Regarding winter preparation, some regions have specific guidelines.

Middle zone

There are virtually no special care requirements here, but it's recommended to plant the shrub near a fence or building to protect it from cold winter winds. Mulch the soil around the trunk if the variety is frost-hardy, and the above-ground portions can be left uncovered. Cultivation practices for this crop in the Volga region are no different.

Urals and Siberia

These regions are quite cold, with shorter summers and frosty, snowy winters. Jasmine thrives in these conditions, too. However, to prevent winter frost, the area around the tree trunk is mulched more thoroughly, with a layer of at least 30 centimeters. The bush itself is covered with agrofibre or other non-woven material.

Common mistakes when caring for jasmine

The plant doesn't require any special growing conditions or labor-intensive care. However, even inexperienced gardeners make mistakes, which can result in poor plant development and very poor and dull blooms.

Some people forget to apply fertilizer in the fall, but it is extremely important for the crop.
They ignore agricultural practices and carry out incomplete pruning, leaving damaged and thickening branches.
Fearing that the above-ground part will freeze, they cover it too much, and when it gets warmer, the shoots begin to rot.

Interesting!

There are more than 70 varieties of jasmine in the world.

Conclusion

Pruning jasmine is one of the most important care procedures. If neglected, the plant will have an unattractive appearance and sparse blooms. It's best to remove most of the excess branches in the fall; in the spring, you can shape the shrub. This should be done carefully to avoid damaging the remaining shoots. If you follow all the recommendations, your jasmine will delight you with its beauty for many years to come.