Ask-a-Dave's-Gardener: Trachelospermum jasminoidesRejuvenate a Star Jasmine,, 2 by bluemerle

bluemerle wrote:
I have a 10 year old Star Jasmine in a large, (2ft x 3ft x3ft), redwood container, that's at least 20 feet tall growing up a trellis. I must admit that I have never
trimmed it back, or try to clean out the small dead vines and dead leaves that accumulate deep inside of the plant. Untidy looking, but puzzling to me as to where to start without doing damage or cutting it back too much. It's located right next to our front door.
It's a huge beautiful plant when in bloom, and the sweet fragrance drifts into the house when the door is opened. Sorry, for rambling.
Anyway, Somehow the drip lines quit delivering water to the poor thing for who knows how long. I'm disabled and don't get to the front door very often, so I'm blaming my husband who takes care of outside irrigation. At least it was during the very mild winter we had. We're in the desert and it reached 90 degrees here last week already. We're back to the 70's again , now.
My husband wants to get on a ladder and just trim it back lightly, leaving all those dead vines and leaves because he knows it will take a couple of years to bloom again.
I think it needs to be cut back much further, maybe to some main multiple trunks?
My question to you is: how far back? I'd like to leave it some what longer to appease my husband, but it's health and vigor are more important. I need advice and back-up from you, if you would be so kind. I took some pictures, but failed to put some sort of measurement gauge next to the plant. My bad...lol.
Hopefully, between the two of us, I'll get the idea, it's not rocket science....
I really need your advice in print that I can give to my husband, as he'll be doing the actual work. Well, I guess I'll TRY to do the cutting lower down on the trunk-(?). If that's what you advise, and as much assurance as you can give me that this operation will work and we'll have our beautiful Star Jasmine restored. We'll replace the potting mix while we're at it, of course. Is there anything else we should do? Bone meal, slow release fertilizer, extra water, less water?
Well, I guess all that's left to do is attach the photos and hope that you think it can be saved. IF I can find it, the first photo will be of the Trachelospermum jasminoides in full bloom. It sits to the left of the door and grows up a trellis which is curved at the top surrounding a window above the door.
Thank You very much to whomever, (is that right?), is willing to give me advice in this matter. I appreciate ALL of your help very much.
I love Dave's Garden, Sincerely, Diane Huff

*****I'm going to post just these 3 because I'm having trouble uploading the photos and I would scream if I lost this very long message. Sorry I talk so much. I'll upload the rest of the pics on the next message--I hope!!!