The subject today is ‘old growth Broom’. This meadow has apparently been untouched by humans since it was subdivided in 1984. Currently it is only used by several families of deer and their friends and relations.
My approach to the old growth broom developed from my laziness in wanting to prevent broom seeds from crossing into my own adjacent meadow. I simply lopped the upper branches from the old growth and let them lie. The result has been quite satisfactory.
I have no doubt that the land beneath the dead broom is packed with viable seeds of broom. The key to the method is not disturbing the ground in the least. The old stalks discourage the deer from browsing there and so reduce germination and regrowth of broom.
