Re: scotch broom!

Legalities- unfortunately, it is legal to have/grow scotch broom in California - nurseries even sell the stuff.  Since Marin County government is more thoughtful than its neighbors (all those hot tubs and peacock feathers had to have an effect) it is possible there might be a county ordinance covering "weeds", which would include scotch broom, and require owners to eradicate. (If this were nearby Berkeley, the policy would probably be that weeds have rights too, so can't be eradicated).  Try calling the county and asking. The Marin County fire control authorities probably have a policy on weed/brush eradication.  But siccing the authorities on your neighbor may not be the best way of getting future cooperation.

Eradication methods- Roundup (herbacide) is probably the easiest, but would have to be applied in a strong concentration, and reapplied when the stuff resprouts from the roots. If carefully done with a hand sprayer, you can avoid spraying indsicriminantly everything else.   It has to be applied to the leaves (or you can saw off the stems, and paint the open surface when the cut is fresh).  Its advantage is that it is only absorbed through leaves, and will not contaminate soil.  Some people recommend using a "Weed Wrench" or "Root Jack" to pull the entire plant out of the ground. Obviously labor intensive. And it has the disadvantage of disturbing the soil, causing germination of more broom seeds. You could rent/borrow some goats - that's what some of the local water districts do. (You would still have to deal with new growth, later).  You might be able to interest the local chapter of the native plant society to have a party there to help remove the broom.   http://www.marin!
 .cc.ca.us/cnps/

This will not be a one time effort, as there are millions of seeds in the ground, waiting for you to remove the shade, so they can germinate. Some people "solarize" the soil after weed removal, by covering with black plastic (having watered first), and allowing the seeds to cook in the hot sun (which at least you have in Marin) for a month.  A lot of seeds, if not killed, ar weakedn to the point aht they will be consumed by fungus.  Some would say that this also kills helpful fungi in the soil, and would thus not use this method, but I don't think there is a definitive answer to that controversey yet.

The Caldifronia Exotic Pest Plant Council publishes a book on invasive species, that also covers eradication techniques - including all of the above.
 http://groups.ucanr.org/ceppc/Publications/Invasive_Plants_of_California_Wildlands.htm

Richard Starkeson
Berkeley, California

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lorettajacobs wrote:

>I live in Marin County, and just moved into a new rental.  In the back
>yard there is an enormous stand of broom.  
 beyond the yard, on a very steep hill, there is a forest of the stuff, in all stages of growth.
>Question regarding eradication: Does anyone know what the current policy
>is regarding the legality of even having such a huge area covered with
>this?  

I know there used to be volunteer organizations that would help
>home owners (and renters) deal with this problem.  Unfortunately, the
>owner is a champion of neglect.  This is the worst property I've ever
>lived on in terms of former neglect.  But, it's a great house, cheap,
>and I want to get this hillside cleared, the easiest and hopefully
>cheapest way possible.
>Any ideas?
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