Q.My Broom Branches Are Turning Black Is It Dead
The bush flowered beautifully this year then lost its leaves and now green branches are turning black
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
It could be any number of fungal diseases. I also read that broom tends to die out after 10 years, if your shrub is that old. Prolonged dry spells also can do it in. Fungal infections are hard to eradicate after the fact. You could try a copper based fungicide, which may stop its spread. You also might try pruning out any dead wood. If you scrape off some of the bark and it is green underneath, the stem is still alive.
Broom is known for spreading and reseeding, so if this one does die, you may still see new growth in the spring. Here is more:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/disease/honey-fungus
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/5254/cytisus-scoparius/details
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/types/shrubs/pruning-early-flowering
