Common broom, Cytisus scoparius
Bright flowers in yellow, orange or flowers in plain white, the gorse delights the eye with its blooms. Since it grows very quickly, it is one of the most popular shrubs in domestic gardens. The plant is also undemanding in terms of care. So she is satisfied with locations that are not suitable for many other plants. As long as the location is sunny, the shrub grows wonderfully. Some also think it grows. One reason why the broom has to be trimmed regularly. There are various options for when and how often.
plant family
The broom, also called broom herb or broom bush, does not belong botanically to the genus of broom (Genista), but to the goat clover. Both genera belong to the subfamily of the legume family. Since the two plants are related to each other, plants from the Geißklee genus are often attributed to the brooms. The dwarf broom or ivory broom also belongs to the legume family. The representatives of these two genera are also poisonous.
Why cut?
With us, the fast-growing broom is cultivated in tubs or planted out in the garden. Since it makes no special demands on the soil, you can quickly find a suitable spot for the sun-loving shrub. To ensure that it blooms lushly over the years and does not spread too much, the broom has to be cut back regularly. Older branches of the broom bush turn brown over time. Once the branches have turned brown, they no longer bear flowers.
Although broom bushes only grow up to two meters high, it can still happen that the bush tips over to the side without being cut. The gorse shoots can grow so long that they touch the ground. These shoots quickly form roots and this is how new broom plants develop. So cutting is also a measure against this unplanned propagation. There are a number of ways to prune the gorse, depending on the time, effort and space available in the garden.
pruning
The broom must be cut back because of its rapid growth. Pruning is done annually or at three to four year intervals. The best time for pruning is in May or June after flowering. This gives the shrub enough time to sprout again.
No matter which variant you choose, when cutting back the broom, make sure that the cuts are smooth. If thicker branches have to be cut, no branch stumps should be left. If they have dried up, cracks can appear in the bark of the trunk. It is through them that pests and fungi can penetrate the bush. To prevent this, larger cuts should definitely be sealed with tree wax.
- If you simply let your broom grow, the shrub will be cut back radically after three to four years
- shorten to a maximum of 40 centimeters
- first branching of the shoots must be preserved
If the first branching of individual shoots is higher than 40 centimeters, then the radical cut will be shorter. The process is then repeated after three to four years.
Annual pruning
If the broom is to grow bushy, an annual cut is recommended. The best time for this is in May or June. Cut back the broom to around 40 centimeters after flowering. Then it drives out again. Repeat the cut the following year after flowering. Older wood can easily fall victim to shortening. If you cut the shrub in the third year, no wood will be older than three years in the fourth year. Annual pruning not only makes the shrub bushier, annual pruning also makes the shrub bloom more luxuriantly. In addition, the plant is rejuvenated. This protects the shrub from bare foliage.
The annual cut can also be used to shape and keep the broom in shape. After flowering, simply cut the shrub into the desired shape. A round cut is recommended as a shape cut. You will see the result of your efforts next year when the flowers bloom.
Pruning spring, autumn
In addition to the annual cut, the broom can also be cut twice a year. Anyone who chooses this variant should make the first cut in the spring after the last frost, the second cut then takes place in October or November. As in spring, you have to pay attention to the weather in autumn.
Autumn pruning must be done before the first frost. You should also give the shrub enough time to close the wounds. If the interfaces are not yet sealed, frost can penetrate the bush. This not only leads to brown shoot tips in spring, but also weakens the shrub.
cutting frost damage
If the shoot tips of the broom are brown in spring, then frost has penetrated the shoots after the cut in autumn. These brown tips need to be trimmed off immediately. The frozen shoots no longer grow and are also entry points for other pests. The check for frost damage is carried out in early spring so that the frozen shoots can be removed before new growth. To prevent frost damage from occurring again, the cut must of course only be made after the last frost.
Branches that are infested with pests must be removed immediately. Make a generous cut for this. The cut shoots should not be put on the compost. It is best to burn them.
tool
Cut the broom with sharp pruning shears. This allows for a smooth cut. Please note: Since the shrub is poisonous in all parts, a cut should only be made with gardening gloves. Not least because the toxin concentration in the plant sap is significantly higher than in other parts of the plant.