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Asiatic jasmine is not a true jasmine, but it is a popular, fast spreading, hardy groundcover in USDA zones 7b through 10. With fragrant flowers, low maintenance requirements, and dense trailing foliage, Asiatic jasmine is an excellent addition to any warm weather garden. Keep reading to learn more about Asiatic jasmine care and how to grow Asiatic jasmine as a groundcover and a trailing vine.
Asiatic jasmine vine, also known as Trachelospermum asiaticum, is a popular ground cover choice for gardens due to its low maintenance nature and ability to choke out weeds. However, some basic cleaning and maintenance is required to keep your Asiatic jasmine vine looking its best. Here are some tips on how to properly care for your vine.
Why Clean Your Asiatic Jasmine Vine?
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Removes debris – Clearing debris such as dead leaves, stems and litter prevents rot and allows sunlight to reach the plant. This encourages new growth
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Improves air circulation – Good air circulation reduces moisture build up and foliage diseases.
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Maintains appearance – A clean well kept jasmine vine simply looks nicer in your garden.
When to Clean Your Vine
Aim to clean your Asiatic jasmine vine at least twice per year – in early spring and mid fall. This coincides with periods of new growth.
Tools You’ll Need
Gather these tools before starting:
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Rake – Remove loose debris from the vine’s surface. A hard-tined rake is best.
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Hand pruners – Snip away dead stems and shape overgrown areas.
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Gardening gloves – Protect your hands from scratches.
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Leaf blower – Blow away cut debris (optional).
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Garden hose – Wash away dust buildup on foliage.
Step-By-Step Cleaning Guide
Follow these steps to thoroughly clean your Asiatic jasmine vine:
1. Rake the Vine
Gently rake over the vine’s surface to dislodge any fallen leaves, stems and other debris. Be careful not to tear the vine’s stems. Rake gently.
2. Prune Away Dead Growth
Use hand pruners to snip away any dead or diseased looking stems back to their base. This encourages new growth.
3. Shape Overgrown Areas
If certain areas are growing beyond their boundaries, prune them back. This stimulates bushier regrowth.
4. Use a Leaf Blower
A leaf blower on low setting quickly clears away pruned debris (optional step).
5. Wash the Foliage
Use a garden hose on fan setting to wash away any dust coating the leaves. Allow foliage to fully dry.
6. Apply Mulch
Spread a 2 inch layer of fresh mulch over the vine. Choose pine bark or pebbles. This retains moisture and suppresses weeds.
Tips for Ongoing Maintenance
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Mow your Asiatic jasmine vine annually to prevent it becoming too dense. Set mower blades very high.
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Fertilize in early spring with a balanced 10-10-10 fertilizer to encourage growth.
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Water vine whenever top 2 inches of soil become dry. Jasmine prefers consistently moist (not soggy) soil.
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Watch for pests like scales and treat with horticultural oil if infestations occur.
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Propagate your vine by taking semi-hardwood cuttings in summer.
When to Call a Professional
Seeking professional help is advisable if:
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Your vine suffers extensive dieback or goes brown. This indicates a disease problem.
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An invasive perennial weed like nutsedge is overtaking the vine. Selective herbicide may be required.
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Your vine becomes severely overgrown beyond what you can prune back. A professional pruning may help rejuvenate it.
With proper cleaning and care, your Asiatic jasmine vine will thrive for years to come. The small effort is well worth having a healthy, attractive ground cover. Maintain your vine regularly and enjoy its benefits.
What is Asian Jasmine?
Asiatic jasmine (Trachelospermum asiaticum) is not actually related to jasmine plants, but it does produce white to yellow, fragrant, star-shaped flowers that are similar to jasmine. It is native to Japan and Korea and is hardy in USDA zones 7b through 10, where it grows as an evergreen groundcover. If it is allowed to grow continuously through the winter, it will form a dense leafy groundcover within two years. If grown as a groundcover, it will reach 6 to 18 inches (15-46 cm.) in height and 3 feet (91 cm.) in spread. Its leaves are dark green, small, and glossy. In the summer, it produces small, delicate, and very fragrant flowers, though in hotter climates flowers may be scarce.
How to Grow Asiatic Jasmine
Asiatic jasmine care is very minimal. The plants do best in moist and fertile soil, but they can handle much harsher conditions. They are tough and moderately drought and salt tolerant. The plants prefer full sun and will grow in most types of soil. They perform best when they are somewhat neglected. Occasional pruning is sometimes necessary to keep growth in check. The plants won’t climb, so growing Asian jasmine vines as groundcover or trailing vines is the most effective. They do very well in containers or window boxes, where they are allowed to hang down over the edges of balconies and railings.
Asian Jasmine – Archer Services
FAQ
How to maintain Asiatic jasmine?
What is the difference between jasmine and Asiatic jasmine?
How do you clean a jasmine plant?
How do you care for Asiatic jasmine?
It’s essential to collect and discard every bit of plant material, because these plants can root from cuttings. If you don’t get rid of everything, you’ll have new plants popping up. After you’ve cut back your Asiatic jasmine, water it well to help it recover from the shock of the trims. Add one inch of water per week for four weeks.
How do you trim Asian Jasmine?
If you have a large area that needs work, consider using a string trimmer. You can trim the edge of the “patch” or you can skim the trimmer over the top of the vines. Photo by Gretchen Heber. At one house we lived in, we had a huge area of Asian jasmine.
Is it easy to control Asian jasmine plants?
But there’s no need to sound the alarm. While it may take a bit of effort, it’s easy enough to control Asian jasmine plants. The best advice we can offer is to keep a close eye on your vines. I know this can get tricky, what with life getting in the way and all.
Should you plant Asian Jasmine vines?
Look before you leap when it comes to planting Asian jasmine vines. You may be attracted by the plant’s small, dark green leaves and pretty white flowers, or its reputation as an easy groundcover. However, once you lose control of jasmine, keeping it where you want it can be difficult.