Spring is well underway, and it is an ideal moment to ensure your flowers and plants are prepared for the summer months ahead. One stunning plant worth adding to your garden is star jasmine, also known as Chinese jasmine. Star jasmine works wonderfully when grown against walls or fences, and releases a delightful fragrance throughout the garden.
To guarantee you get the best results from your jasmine this year, gardening expert and TikTok creator Ish has revealed there are three essential steps to follow, with two needing to be completed during spring, for the most spectacular jasmine blooms this summer.
Ish said: "If you want your star jasmine to have an abundance of flowers this year, then there are a few steps you can take right now in spring in order to make sure it is absolutely covered in them."
Jasmine blooms can start to emerge from June and last until the end of August. To maximise the potential of your jasmine plant this year, Ish has offered some valuable guidance that gardeners would do well to heed.
1. Plenty of Sunlight
The initial consideration gardeners need to bear in mind is where the jasmine plant is situated within the garden. Star jasmine flourishes in sunlight, so avoid placing it in any shaded areas. Ish noted that receiving approximately six to eight hours of sunlight daily can significantly boost the jasmine's flowering output. Make certain to position your jasmine somewhere it can fully benefit from direct sunlight.
2. Feed
Gardeners should also pay attention to the kind of feed they are providing their jasmine plants. Ish revealed that feeding the plant can create a "massive difference" in terms of the volume of flowers produced.
He said: "I like to use two types of feed for my jasmine. First of all, I like to use a slow-releasing feed like bloodfish or bone, or slow-releasing feed pellets, right down to the ground around about now in spring. You can also add a good layer of mulch or multipurpose compost around the base to really introduce nutrients into the soil. Slow-releasing is going to help build its foundation up there and help it up here."
After you have spotted a cluster of buds developing on the star jasmine, Ish suggested introducing tomato feed to the plant. When plenty of buds have emerged, apply tomato feed once every fortnight throughout the entire summer period. The gardening expert said: "What this does is it boosts the potash in the soil, which actually helps it flower more."
3. Pruning
Lastly, Ish's final task is to ensure the jasmine receives a proper pruning. Though this should be carried out after the star jasmine has flowered, typically between September and October. Ish said: "That encourages it to grow new shoots, ready for flowers next year. So if you want really good flowers on your jasmine, now you know how."
