Buckthorn
- Buckthorn: A Threat to our Native Woodland Ecosystem (PDF)
- Buckthorn leaf illustrations (PDF)
- Chemical control of buckthorn (PDF)
- Tips for buckthorn removal from January through March
- Managing Woodlands Buckthorn and Beyond workshop presentation (PDF: 7.5 MB)
- MN DNR Buckthorn
- Using nature’s mulch wisely: benefits of sticks, logs and plant debris
Quick buckthorn removal tips
Follow these quick tips for removing buckthorn (all of this information is further explained in the Managing Woodlands Buckthorn and Beyond presentation listed above):
- Don’t clear-cut buckthorn–gradual removal is best
- Do prioritize which buckthorn plants to remove first. Not all buckthorn is equal.
- Do give native species more room to grow by removing nearby buckthorn. Mark your native species with ribbon. In the fall, native species will turn color while buckthorn will remain green.
- Don’t confuse female buckthorn plants with chokecherry, black cherry and nannyberry plants, all of which bear black fruit.
- Do treat freshly cut buckthorn stumps when the temperature is above freezing.
- Do cut buckthorn when the ground is frozen, when working in areas where wildflowers grow.
When buckthorn is cut, what do you do with it? Here are some ideas:
- Place buckthorn logs flat on the ground to decompose. This is especially useful on slopes to slow water movement and prevent erosion.
- Make a buckthorn walking stick, trellis, arbor, fence or garden gate.
- Chip the brush (without berries) on site and use the chips for mulch.
- Bring the brush to the Minnetonka Public Works brush drop-off. While you are not required to separate the branches with black berries from the rest of the brush, it is appreciated.
