How to Prune Pink Jasmine

Overview

Pink jasmine is a fast-growing vine with clusters of tiny flowers, ranging in color from pink to white, that are very fragrant. The vine can easily take over a trellis and move on to surrounding fences, arbors, even other plants, thanks to aggressive twiners. Pruning pink jasmine is critical because otherwise the vine tends to bunch up and lose its shape.

Step 1

Run your hand along the entire plant, sloughing off dead flowers. They should come right off.

Step 2

Starting from the top, prune plant to desired shape with pruning shears. Don't worry about cutting off green shoots; pink jasmine grows fast and recovers quickly.

Step 3

Work your way down to the bottom of the plant. If your pink jasmine covers an arbor or arch, trim one side first, then the other.

Step 4

When you have pruned your pink jasmine to the desired shape, put the pruning shears aside and pick up a pair of small garden clippers. Go over the entire plant, again from top to bottom, and gently spread the tiny branches apart with one hand so you can inside for any dead, diseased or brown leaves or branches. Carefully clip them out.

Step 5

If you cut out a brown section in the middle of a long section of vine, be sure to pull the top portion out as well--or just leave it and it will turn brown naturally and you can remove it later.

Step 6

Give the plant a final check and remove all twiners that may have wrapped themselves around another plant--or gone somewhere else you don't want it to go.