When is the best time to prune broom and how hard do I prune it. Seed heads forming now and bushes a good 2 metres wide (1 metre high) and only 2yrs old. Did not touch them last year but now they are taking over despite being stunning when in flower.
Don't think broom likes being pruned. My understanding is that they're not long-lived plants anyway, so let them do their thing and then when they peg out you can replace them.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Happy to learn Verdun - the only brooms I've been responsible for were in my Aged Ps' garden, and given that Ma had never pruned them as she'd been told they would sulk, I left well alone.
Sounds like 'start as you mean to go on' is the way to treat them.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Of course Verdun - you're very welcome but this time can you vac the boot out when you've finished with it - it's still full of compost and leaves and you're the only one who carries plants in it
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I read that you cut broom back by a third straight after flowering; have done this 2 years running with mine and as Vernon says - you end up with a neat green shape.
Great news - Thank you, will get out the GIANT pruners, my white broom The Bride were stunning again this year, but I really don't want 10million babies!!
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Don't think broom likes being pruned. My understanding is that they're not long-lived plants anyway, so let them do their thing and then when they peg out you can replace them.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Happy to learn Verdun - the only brooms I've been responsible for were in my Aged Ps' garden, and given that Ma had never pruned them as she'd been told they would sulk, I left well alone.
Sounds like 'start as you mean to go on' is the way to treat them.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I do what Verdun says too
I do too - when I remember. Which reminds me - I haven't done my white one...
I promise I'll do it later. Could do with a convertible today - scorchio here
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Of course Verdun - you're very welcome
but this time can you vac the boot out when you've finished with it - it's still full of compost and leaves and you're the only one who carries plants in it 
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I read that you cut broom back by a third straight after flowering; have done this 2 years running with mine and as Vernon says - you end up with a neat green shape.
Great news - Thank you, will get out the GIANT pruners, my white broom The Bride were stunning again this year, but I really don't want 10million babies!!
My partner pruned a broom the only trouble now is
its got no bristles left on it so its her excuse not to clean up LOL