|
Cut
Broom in Bloom. To the ground.
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.
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 is a manufacturer
of great tools on Vancouver Island. Broombusters was given an Extractigator
which works great! (www.extractigator.com)
Removing Broom
with Seeds - Mid to Late 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 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.
|