Lompico Broom Fighters

What is broom?

Scotch broom and French broom are invasive species found throughout the west coast of North America, from Los Angeles all the way to British Columbia and Alaska. They grow in the shape of a broom and produce yellow pea flowers, and they are extremely flammable! Imagine a slender oil lamp made of matchsticks, and you've got these plants' relationship with fire. They also crowd out other vegetation, making for fewer native food sources for our local birds, butterflies, and other wildlife.

Fight broom to fight fires!

Resources from forestry experts are linked below, but the principles for removing infestations are simple:

  • Pull the plant and roots completely. Intact roots will resprout. This is easiest after a period of rainfall.

  • Big immovable roots can be cut to ground level and damaged just before summer, when they will die in the heat.

  • Keep pulled plants in a compact pile for hauling or chipping. We will organize chipping days.

  • Control the seeds as best you can if they are in flower. The seeds last 30+ years.

  • Scatter fast growing native seeds in eradicated areas to shade out broom seedlings. Suggested plants below (results may vary)

    • Lemon balm

    • Blue grama, fescue, or UC Verde buffalo grass in sunny spots

    • Miner's lettuce

    • Lupine

    • Wild ginger

  • When you can't get to everything, mark out a perimeter to keep broom-free and try to expand it each year.

  • Take before and after photos, and upload them when you submit session info.

A coordinated, comprehensive plan

Here is a map of some infestation spots. The aim is to map all of Lompico and color code the patches by difficulty (i.e. if the broom is surrounded by thorny vines). If you would like to contribute to the map, fill out the form below and I will add you as an editor. We will try to prioritize patches that can "bridge" a fire between areas and act as kindling for trees. We can also try to schedule pulling parties for denser areas.