![]() But it’s going to take many, many hands and a concerted effort for a number of years. If we all pull together and pay attention, we could eradicate French broom and send it packing. And in the spring you might see a variety of lovely wildflowers, Fremont’s star lily, Western hounds tongue, and native irises, popping up in places where there was once only broom. You may reap the rewards right away and discover some lovely mushrooms while you work. It’s a lovely and productive way to get a little winter-time outdoor exercise between rain showers and explore the ground beneath our feet. The idea is to simply pull out as many plants as possible, especially the bigger ones that will soon be flowering. Winter is the perfect time of year to take on the broom, whenever and wherever you see it. And if you spray it with herbicides, you risk killing the other native plants in the vicinity and introducing toxins into the soil that will eventually find their way into our water supply.įortunately, French broom has one weakness that we can exploit to help eradicate it safely: a surprisingly small and shallow root system, which makes it relatively easy to simply rip out of the ground with your bare (gloved) hands, especially if the ground is wet, such as it is right now! And if you come across a plant that requires more than a little manual tug, there are special tools available designed to grab the stem near the base, so all you have to do is exert a little leverage to rip it out, roots and all!2. Fire, in fact, can stimulate germination of all those dormant seeds, which means that here in Napa County (and Sonoma County, as well) we could face an onslaught in the next few years. ![]() If you cut it down or even burn it, French broom will simply re-sprout, unless you cut it down within its first year, or so. And in the fall, this thick, dry, woody undergrowth provides fuel for devastating wildfires. And because it “fixes” atmospheric nitrogen, it can over-fertilize the soil, as well. ![]() In its second or third year, the stems will start to branch near the top and become covered with bright green leaves and pea-shaped flowers that effectively block the sun from reaching the ground, thus preventing the germination and regeneration of native plants. ![]() But even that doesn’t seem to kill the plant. The caterpillar of the genista broom moth does feed on the leaves of French broom, and can strip the plant bare. Agriculture and Natural Resources, Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program, )įrench broom grows quickly, as much as 3 – 4 feet the first year, and the long, skinny stems grow very close to each other, ultimately forming dense stands that most wildlife finds not only impenetrable, but unpalatable, as well. A mature plant, which can be up to 10 feet tall, can produce as many as 10,000 seeds a season! And while about 40% of those seeds will germinate immediately, and 25% the following year, because of an impervious seed coat, the remaining seeds can remain dormant in the soil for up to 50 years!(1. During the dry summer months, those mesmerizing little yellow flowers, turn into nasty, dark, hardened, fuzz-covered pods, that open with a “pop” and a mini-explosion that launches the seeds into the air where they can travel for yards before landing. Those pretty little flowers harbor a nasty secret. “But it’s so pretty,” you might be thinking, “especially in the spring, with its lovely little yellow flowers dancing daintily in the breeze.”ĭon’t be deceived. ![]() And if it can’t do that, there are some tools to help you. The ground is soft and the broom’s roots are so shallow, that most of it can be pulled out by hand. The last few days of rain.with a few more on the horizon.make this the perfect time to get out and do some serious damage to one of the most invasive and destructive plants in the Napa Valley, French broom (Genista monspessulana). ![]()
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