How to Prune a Scottish Broom Plant

Trim, or deadhead, the spent flowers on the Scotch broom as needed while the plant is flowering in spring. This prevents the plant from wasting its energy on producing seeds, which also averts the plant from spreading.

Prune off all sickly or damaged branches found on the Scotch broom at any time of the year. Cut back into a healthy section on the plant. Always get rid of removed branches and sterilize your tools with rubbing alcohol after use, when you prune diseased branches.

Stand back several feet from the Scotch broom plant to determine what requires pruning after all the flowers have faded at the end of spring for annual pruning. Try to allow the plant to grow into its natural form as much as possible.

Remove branches crossing through the center or rubbing against other branches on the Scotch broom. This allows better air circulation and more sunlight to reach interior branches.

Make clean cuts at an angle using a sharp hand pruner. Direct the shape of the Scotch broom growth by cutting 1/4 inch above a bud facing the direction the growth is desired.

Cut the branches back to the point they meet another branch or ground level to thin the Scotch broom. Many gardeners prune one-third of the Scotch broom’s oldest branches to the ground, which encourages new development from the shrub’s base.

Prune the Scotch broom using the branch-by-branch shaping method. Make cuts on each branch back into the center of the shrub. Don’t cut all the branches at the same length to avoid an unnatural form.