Broom, Cytisus scoparius – care and cutting

You can often see brooms in the wild. When they are in bloom, they are showy flowering plants. The yellow flowers shine far and intensely. Brooms like forest edges and fallow land, they like to stand on paths and embankments and in light, acidic oak and hornbeam forests. For garden owners, the cultivars with different flower colors are often more popular. Although gorse is poisonous, it is used as winter food for rabbits and deer. It also serves as a soil improver and as a fast-growing soil stabilizer. Broom is ideal for nutrient-poor soils. There the soil is broken up by the plants and enriched with nitrogen. Gorse practically produces its own fertilizer.

Although the plants are quite robust, they are sensitive to prolonged heat, drought and frost. They need a sunny location and loose, fresh soil. It is best to only buy container goods, because the roots are quite sensitive. Therefore, broom should not be transplanted if possible. The plants do not need to be watered or fertilized once established. You don’t have to cut brooms. Nevertheless, it is beneficial to trim regularly. The bush becomes denser and the ability to bloom increases. However, you should not cut too deep. Broom is not very hardy. Depending on the region, the plants should be protected in winter. Propagation is by sowing, cuttings and cuttings. Diseases and pests are extremely rare.

location

Broom is a sun worshiper. The plant should get as much sun as possible. The growing conditions are not ideal in semi-shade or even in the shade, the plants do not thrive as well and are more susceptible.

• full sun
• As much sun as possible.
• Thrives excellently on hot and dry southern exposures

plant substrate

Broom does not make any great demands on the plant substrate. It is important that the soil contains as little lime as possible. Broom likes humus-rich, acidic soil and therefore does well in the heath garden. It is important that the substrate is permeable. Standing wetness is not tolerated.

• Loose and fresh
• Alkaline and nitrogen-poor soils
• Can be loamy, sandy or rocky
• Not too chalky
• No waterlogging
• Drought is significantly better than wet soil

plant

There is not much to consider when planting for the first time, but when transplanting it is. Broom forms a taproot and is therefore difficult to get out of the ground. You have to dig deep and don’t damage the root. That is not easy. It is best not to transplant taproots at all. Therefore, you should think carefully about where the wood will be planted right from the start.

• Broom is also good as a container plant, but overwintering is not easy
• However, the vessel must be sufficiently deep for the taproot.
• Buy only as container goods so that the wood grows well
• Dig a sufficiently large planting hole
• Loosen the soil as deeply as possible
• Place the plant balls in water so that they can really soak up water.
• Plant at the same height as the plant was in the pot
• fill up soil
• Press down properly
• It is best to form a casting ring and water thoroughly
• Goes well with heather plants, fireweed, sedum species, rhododendrons , azaleas and dwarf conifers

watering and fertilizing

Broom does not require much water. Only young plants and freshly planted specimens need water regularly until they grow. There is no need to fertilize either, gorse produces its own fertiliser, which is very practical.

• water only if it is dry for a long time
• Young plants need more water. They should be watered regularly.
• Potted plants also need more water. It needs to be watered regularly, but not excessively
• Fertilizing is not necessary. The nodule bacteria sitting on the roots produce their own fertilizer.
• If additional fertilization is used, it is rather harmful. The shoots shoot up, are weak and powerless. In addition, winter hardiness decreases.

To cut

Broom does not have to be cut, but can be cut. A pruning promotes the formation of new, flowering shoots. The cut should be carried out immediately after flowering, as this also prevents self-seeding, as there are hardly any infructescences left. It is important not to cut too hard. At least 50 to 60 cm should remain.

• Cut immediately after flowering
• Cut vigorously, but with caution
• Don’t cut too much
• Without a cut, the gorse often becomes head heavy and tips over
• The loose, overhanging shape should be retained
• Frozen and dried shoots can be cut out in spring

hibernate

Broom is sensitive to frost, although they are almost always sold as hardy. In severe winters, the shrub freezes back down to the thicker trunk. The wood does not always survive. Young plants in particular should be protected.

• Protect young plants in winter
• Mulch the soil thickly and cover the lower part of the gorse with brushwood
• Frost-sensitive gorse in containers is best stored in a light and cold place, but frost-free over the winter. The ideal temperatures are between 5 and 10°C.

multiply

Propagation is by seeds, layering or cuttings. The plant often sows itself. The rooting of cuttings, on the other hand, is not so easy and takes a long time.

cuttings

• Cut from mature, one year old wood
• The best time is late summer or early fall
• Should be 15 to 20 cm long
• Stuck in seed soil that has been mixed with sand
• Keep warm but not sunny (21 to 24°C)
• Keep substrate slightly moist

Lowering
shoots that are lying on the ground take root quite easily and form new plants. This is how the gorse spreads, not always to the delight of the garden owner

sowing

• It takes time for plants to develop from seeds
• Sow in spring, preferably directly outdoors
• Sowing in a container is of course also possible
• Do not cover seeds with soil, they germinate in the light
• roughen seeds a bit
• Keep substrate slightly moist
• Keep warm but shady

diseases and pests

Broom is incredibly robust. Diseases and pests only occur very rarely. But wild animals can be dangerous. Gardens with gorse that are not fenced in attract rabbits and deer. So if you live in the country and have gorse in your garden, you should think about fencing. This is not only important to protect the broom, but also to protect yourself. Wild animals usually have a lot of ticks in their fur and they like to fall on the plants and then wait there for their next victim. This is mainly a threat in areas with a high incidence of ticks.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between broom and noble broom?
That’s very simple. Broom is the wild form. The plants always flower yellow. They are propagated by seed. Noble broom is a purely cultivated form, created through mutation and breeding. As a result, there are different flower colors and different growth forms. Noble broom is only propagated by cuttings, which always results in pure offspring.

Is broom poisonous to pets too?
Yes. Poisoning is manifested by increased salivation, vomiting, diarrhea. In severe cases, it can lead to intestinal obstruction and unconsciousness.

Can broom tolerate wind?
In general, wind is not a problem for the plants. With frequent one-sided wind, however, the growth form will change. It adapts to the wind direction.