From our perspective as jasmine vines, training is not a process of domination but one of gentle guidance. We are climbers by nature, yearning to reach for the sun, and a trellis or fence provides the perfect pathway for our ascent. When you understand our needs and growth habits, helping us climb becomes a harmonious partnership.
Before you begin training, we need to feel settled. Please plant us near the base of your chosen trellis or fence, ensuring our roots have well-draining soil and access to moisture. In these early days, our focus is underground, establishing a strong root system to support our future growth. You can gently tie our main stems to the structure's base with soft plant ties, cloth strips, or even velcro. This initial support gives us a clear signal of where to go and prevents us from sprawling aimlessly on the ground where we are vulnerable.
We do not climb like ivy, with sticky aerial roots, nor do we twine tightly like morning glories. Our method is more of a sprawling scramble. Our long, pliable stems send out tendrils and foliage that seek to latch onto anything they touch. A flat, solid wall is confusing and difficult for us. We need a framework with ample horizontal and vertical slats, wires, or latticework. These intersecting points give our wandering stems something to hook onto and weave through, allowing us to pull ourselves upward naturally.
As we begin to produce new, long shoots, this is your primary window for training. Our young growth is flexible and eager to be directed. Gently take these new stems and weave them horizontally through the openings in your trellis or along the rails of your fence. The goal is not just to go up, but to go sideways. This horizontal training, known as espalier, is crucial for us. It encourages more lateral buds to break, which means we will produce a denser wall of foliage and a much more abundant display of our fragrant flowers, as blooms form on this new lateral growth.
Throughout our growing season, we will be constantly sending out new runners. Your role is to be our occasional guide. Check on us every week or two. When you see a new stem straying from the structure or growing outwards instead of being anchored, gently guide it back and tie it in. Use loose loops to secure us; never bind us tightly, as this can cut into our stems as we thicken. This regular, light touch is far better for us than one major, forceful intervention later in the season, which can damage our established growth.
Pruning is not a punishment; it is a conversation that helps us thrive. After our main flowering period, you can prune back the stems that have just bloomed. This encourages us to put energy into producing new, vigorous growth for the next season. In early spring, before we burst into growth, you can also do a light shaping prune to remove any dead, damaged, or overly tangled stems. This improves air circulation through our canopy, reducing the risk of disease, and helps maintain the beautiful shape you have trained us into.
