In recent years, the spread of bracken has become a major problem on heathland. It could be that the bracken, like grasses, is benefiting from nutrient enrichment through air pollution. The vigour of bracken can be reduced by mechanical treatment - regular cutting or rolling, especially with a special roller called a 'bracken bruiser'. Mowing and rolling are most effective when done when the bracken frond has just finished unfurling and food reserves in the underground root system (rhizome) are most depleted. This is also the time when it is best to treat bracken with a herbicide. Usually on heathland the selective chemical Asulox is used for this and, in normal circumstances, it does not affect the growth of plants such as heathers that may be growing with the bracken.

There are disadvantages to the mechanical methods of bracken control. Regular cutting keeps all vegetation short and rolling works best where the vegetation is short, this makes control of bracken in taller vegetation a difficult proposition. Both methods can harm ground-nesting birds.

Under dense stands of bracken, there is often a thick layer of litter. Stripping this away can help heathers and other heathland plants to re-establish.