![]() Begin work on the perimeter of the infested areas first and move inward to the core of the infestation.Minimizing disturbance prevents further infestations of weeds. Select control practices that minimize soil disturbance.Survey the area for weeds, set priorities, and select the best control method(s) for the site.Management will require dedication for a number of years and should allow flexibility in methods. Select control methods reflecting the available time, funding, and labor of the participants, the land use goals, and the values of the community and landowners. ![]() Use a multifaceted and adaptive approach.The goal is to maximize effective control and to minimize negative environmental, economic, and recreational impacts. IPM involves selecting from a range of possible control methods to match the management requirements of each specific site. The preferred approach for weed control is Integrated Pest Management (IPM).Seeds are transported by animals, erosion, water, and human activity, especially road maintenance.This enables new seedlings to establish in areas where there appear to be no plants. Seeds can remain viable for more than 60 years because of their hard shells.Seed pods reach maturity in late July and August, and pods begin exploding audibly, ejecting seeds up to 20 feet.A single plant can produce up to 10,000 seeds per year. While Scotch broom thrives in full sun, seedlings can also establish in partial to full shade.It is commonly found in clear-cuts or harvested timberlands, along roadsides and rights-of-way, and on land which has been disturbed. Scotch broom grows best in full sun and well-drained soils.Dense stands can impede the movement of wildlife, prevent timber regeneration, and displace pasture forage for grazing animals.The oils in Scotch broom are very flammable which can pose a fire hazard.Scotch broom is allelopathic, meaning it leaches chemicals into the soil that kills or disrupts the ectomycorrhizal fungal pathways on which other plants rely.It is difficult to remove once established, especially because of its long-lived seed bank. Scotch broom is highly invasive on disturbed soils and can quickly out-compete native species.Seed pods are typically 1-3 inches long and range in color from green (when newly formed) to brown or black as they mature.Flowers are bright yellow, pea-like, and occasionally have streaks of red along the blossom.Leaves are small and oval, and usually in clusters of 3 close to the stem, but borne singly further out.Young stems are bright green, with 5 sides and distinctive ridges along the entire length.Plants can grow up to 12 feet tall, with “old growth” Scotch broom trunks measuring as much as 5 inches in diameter.Scotch broom is a large, multi-branched, perennial shrub.
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