How to Prune a Scotch Broom Shrub

With bright yellow petals, the scotch broom is an attractive shrub whose relationship to the pea plant is readily apparent. Carried over by European trade ships, the plant naturalized in the American West and is today perceived as invasive. The scotch broom is attractive when flowering but dull at other times of the year. You may wish to plant your scotch broom in a container to minimize the risk of invasion. Pruning should be done during the winter, before new season growth begins.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hedge clippers

1. Remove broken, bruised or dead branches by trimming them at the base with your hedge clippers. These need to be removed for the health of the shrub.

2. Disinfect hedge clippers before continuing by soaking them for several minutes in a 1:10 solution of bleach:water. Dry the clippers thoroughly before continuing to prevent rust.

3. Trim back the tips of the shrub to mold it into a desired shape. Scotch broom is a fast grower and will easily get out of hand if not kept in shape.

4. Thin out the interior of the shrub, removing woody older stems that produce fewer flowers. This encourages new growth.

5. Trim the shrub again just before bloom to keep its appearance tidy. This should be sometime in mid-summer.

References

• HGTV: Controlling Scotch Broom
• Garden Web: Scotch Broom