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Should I be pruning my 'Moonlight' Pale Yellow Scotch Broom now?

Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
in Problem solving
I have this Scotch Broom, and it bloomed 2 or 3 years ago.  I pruned it after the flowers had finished. It didn't bloom last year.

I am wondering if I should be doing anything with it this year?  It has these grey pieces on it, and I don't know what they are.

Wondering if I should prune it and by how much, or leave well alone.  Or if fertiliser is a good idea now?

Thank you for any help.


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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It's obviously been hacked back at some point, but the flower buds are appearing on it. Those tiny little creamy yellow blobs along the stems are the flowering buds. If you prune - it should be done lightly after flowering, and should really be done carefully from an early age as any of the brooms can be ruined by harsh pruning, or pruning when older. 
    I've never had problems on any broom I've ever had, but I think it's a gall caused by a mite. I'd remove those. They're normally very pest free plants.

    They don't need feeding - ever.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    Thank you so much Fairygirl, that answers so many questions for me.
    I will do as you say, and leave it completely alone, and remove those grey blobs.
    Yes it was hacked back, I hope that didn't ruin it. It's quite old too I think. 
    Do you think it's still worth keeping?
    I wonder if it will flower this year.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    It comes down to whether you like it or not. It's been butchered, but if you had some other planting around it, that would help - a load of spring bulbs, daffs etc, would hide some of the worst bits, and then some perennials to do the same job. You could take the worst stems/branches out - right back to the ground or near to the main stems/trunks, and that will help too.  :)
    There are flower buds there. It may have been pruned at the wrong time for flowering last year, ie the previous autumn/winter, or it may have been weather not playing ball. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    edited February 2023
    Thank you! I did love the flowers and they smelled wonderful, but I don't so much like it if it's not looking so good now.  I could always put a new young one in maybe.
    I'm guessing the worst stems/branches would be the browner ones on the front right side of the 2nd to last picture, maybe? I'm not quite sure how to judge if they are bad - also maybe the ones pointing up at a 45 degree angle left on the last picture are not so good?
    I think I will leave it for now and hope it flowers. I do need to put new plants in that whole flowerbed as it definitely needs an overhaul!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    All the ones which aren't green and with viable buds aren't worth keeping.  Certainly remove the galls.   :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    Lovely thank you will do ! :)
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    Got some flowers! - not many but very nice to see:


  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Good stuff  - the flowers are lovely. Lots of varieties are quite a harsh shade of yellow, so that's very appealing. I love the white variety   :)
    It may not be the bonniest shrub, but you can always add those aforementioned perennials & bulbs around it to hide the bits that were hacked. At least it was viable and cam away nicely for you.
    Those bits of foliage at the front are likely to be Californian poppies, so you should get those later. The broom may shade them out a bit, but they might be ok depending on the aspect.  :)

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pink678Pink678 Posts: 498
    edited April 2023
    I looked up the white variety and it looks lovely, I've never seen one in real life.
    I pulled off all those grey bits as you advised and got rid of the old branches, and it looked a lot cleaner right away. The last time it flowered it had a strong vanilla scent but this year not so fragrant, so maybe next year the scent will come back.
    I'm looking forward to some Californian poppy flowers I hope. It seems to have just self-seeded right there next to the Broom, so if that's where it wants to be I'm not one to argue :D

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I've had the white one several times, including in this newer garden. Unfortunately I lost it a few years ago as it got uprooted by rough weather one spring. It was bit top heavy, and I should really have pruned it a little more, but it was such a delight when flowering, along with the Phormium Cream Delight it was in behind, and the clematis behind and through it, that I was always loathe to do anything too drastic. Serves me right! 
    I'm still considering getting another one for a site I have. May need to go to the nursery soon. That's always a bad idea though - for the bank account...  :D

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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