How to Cut Scotch Broom

Please view the printable information sheets for additional information.
Info About Scotch Broom
What to do About Broom

Cut Broom in Bloom. To the ground. In the Spring.
The Scotch broom plant is most vulnerable when in bloom. If cut at the ground level, while in bloom, the plant usually dies. (If cut during the wet season, it will respout.) You have to cut all the way at the ground level, because there are often small - or large - sprouts that go off into the grass at ground level. Sometimes you have to move grass and give a tug on the stem to find the base of the plant. During the dry, hot summer, almost all larger plants die. The smaller ones may regrow, but they will be weakened, and you will be able to find them easily when they bloom next spring. Unless there is grass, probably seeds will sprout, but they can easily be pulled out by hand each year.

Plant grass, allow ground story plants to take over, plant trees. Broom grows most frequently in disturbed soil. If you encourage regrowth of native or cultivated plants, the broom will give up. After the first year, it isn't really hard, but it does require attentiveness. Just keep cutting the broom in bloom - and pulling out the new seedlings. Soon the native plants will thrive again.

Removing Broom with Seeds - Summer Broom.
After the seeds have formed on the broom, it is important NOT to move the branches. However, if you want to continue to cut on private property, or you are cutting in a place where you will not remove the branches, simply cut the broom and pile it on top of itself. Do not move the broom, or you will spread the seed! On private property, when the rains return in the fall, you can burn the branches.

Wet Season BROOM REMOVAL When the ground is wet, you can pull broom from the ground without damaging the soil. Smaller broom plants can be pulled out by hand. Large ones can be removed by special broom removal tools. There are two manufacturer of great tools on Vancouver Island. Broombusters was given an Extractigator which works great! (See photo to right.) (www.extractigator.com)