

Record the presence of priority weeds in their council area and provide this to the NSW Department of Primary Industries. These records are made by authorised officers during property inspections under the Biosecurity Act 2015. Recorded presence of Scotch broom during property inspections (Map: Biosecurity Information System - Weeds, 2017-2023).Some large populations of Scotch broom exist on the Barrington Tops and near Braidwood. Gorse is a problem in the south-eastern region of the state and the Blue Mountains. Gorse and brooms are mostly confined to cool temperate areas of NSW, particularly the tablelands. If going to a hospital take a piece of the plant for identification.If the patient is conscious and responsive call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26 or your doctor.If the patient is unconscious, unresponsive or having difficulty breathing dial 000 or get to the emergency section of a hospital immediately.If ingested in large amounts the toxins contained in scotch broom can weaken the heart. The seeds and leaves are poisonous and can cause high blood pressure and nausea if ingested. Scotch broom is toxic to humans and will cause discomfort and irritation, but is not life-threatening. They form dense thickets which can block access by humans and stock but harbour feral animals such as rabbits, foxes and pigs. Scotch broom will smother desirable vegetation which reduces pasture stocking rates. This plant must not be sold anywhere in NSW We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.This plant is a Weed of National Significance This page contains affiliate links to products on Amazon. Discard diseased branches, do not compost.Remove dead or broken branches at any time of the year.Prune 1/3 of branches, and begin shaping when the plant is young.Cut stems at an angle and trim back prudently, taking off approximately 1/3 of the shrub at most each season. Step 4 - Be sure to use sterilized, sharp pruners to shape Scotch Broom. This encourages good structure, promotes blooming, and prevents the shrub from looking shaggy. Step 3 - Begin a yearly maintenance pruning when Scotch Broom is young. Do not compost them to avoid spreading disease. Step 2 - If you have any broken, diseased or dead branches, remove those at any time of the year. It sets buds for the following year after it finishes flowering, so pruning should be done directly after this season's flowers are finished. Step 1 - Timing is key when pruning Scotch Broom. Remove any diseased or broken branches to keep your plant healthy.

Pruning is the best way to encourage healthier branching and better flowering. Remove up to 1/3 of the branches to open up the center of the shrub and keep it to a manageable size. Once a year, prune directly after flowering, starting when the shrub is young. Because of their well-branching, shrubby habit, they will require selective pruning to keep their appearance neat. Many varieties of Scotch Broom grow over 4-6 ft or more in height. Do not compost these branches, discard them in regular waste disposal. Immediately discard these branches, particularly if they have insect damage or if you see signs of disease, to avoid spreading the damage to the plant or other areas in your landscape. If you notice broken, misshapen, dead, or diseased branches, remove them at any time.

If you prune in autumn or winter, you will decrease the number of flowers Scotch Broom produces the following year. Do this at the right time of the year to ensure masses of blooms the following season. Because most varieties of Scotch Broom bloom on old wood, any pruning should be done just after flowering, whether to remove scraggly or damaged stems or for shaping and aesthetic purposes. Depending on the variety, Scotch Broom shrubs bloom in spring or early summer. Only prune Scotch Broom directly after it flowers. Be sure to use a 45-degree angle so water runs off the stem to avoid rot. Use sharp sterilized pruners, and cut the plant back by 1/3 to encourage fuller, lush foliage. In summer, branches can be trimmed to maintain their shape or to remove spindly, dead, or crossing branches. Only prune Scotch Broom directly after flowering. Flowers appear on old wood, so pruning at the wrong time could delay or even prevent blooming. When pruning Scotch Broom, timing is key to ensure prolific flowering the following year.
