BUCKTHORN CONTROL

Non-native invasive buckthorn has infested your woodland. How do you restore the native woodland habitat that existed before the buckthorn problem? My favored method of buckthorn control is cut-stump treatment. Done properly, the benefits of controlling buckthorn by cut-stump treatment include:
~up to 100% effective against buckthorn regrowth
~use of glyphosate is cheaper and less hazardous than many herbicides
~very minimal amount of herbicide is used
~roots die but remain in soil to stabilize against erosion
~buckthorn removal is completed much faster than with a wrenching tool
~avoids soil disturbance to minimize future weed germination
To begin, refer back to the winter identification techniques in my previous blog segment to be confident you are removing buckthorn versus native plants. Have 18-20% strength glyphosate on hand. Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide sold under the brand name RoundUp and various generic brands.
Sample Glyphosate Label
Sample Glyphosate Label
The active ingredient strength is listed on the product label and usually found on the front, bottom right corner of the container.
Head out to your buckthorn patch and begin by cutting the buckthorn slightly above the soil line. This prevents a tripping hazard and places herbicide close to the root system for maximum effectiveness. I apply glyphosate around the outer ½” edge of the freshly cut stump where the cambium layer is located. The cambium layer absorbs the glyphosate and transports it to buckthorn’s roots.
cut stump treatment larger buckthorn
Apply 1/2″ of glyphosate around the outer edge of stump

NOTE: Suspend use of glyphosate between May and July when the cambium transports energy upward for leaf development.
buckthorn blaster foam tip
Buckthorn Blaster’s foam applicator tip
Cut-stump Treatment
Glyphosate may be applied with a disposable foam craft brush dipped into glyphosate. However, I use and highly recommend the Buckthorn Blaster®, a hand-held herbicide applicator that will hold up to 4 ounces of glyphosate. Herbicide is released when the foam applicator tip is placed against the stump and pressure applied. A Buckthorn Blaster® eliminates the spilling risk of open herbicide containers. It will use less herbicide then spraying which may also be hazardous to the applicator and non-targeted native plants.
< class=”mceTemp”>Glyphosate is colorless without the addition of indicator dye. Use of indicator dye will show what areas have been treated. Missing a small section of the cambium during cut-stump treatment may result in buckthorn resprouts. I add ½-1 tsp. of concentrated water soluble indicator dye before filling my Buckthorn Blaster® with glyphosate.
< class=”wp-caption-dt”>
buckthorn blaster photo

Buckthorn Blaster

The Buckthorn Blaster® and indicator dye are available at www.landscape-restoration.com under the PRODUCTS tab.
Happy buckthorn busting!
Cheryl
Landscape Restoration, Inc.
Posted in Buckthorn Control, Invasive Species, Native Plant Species | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

BUCKTHORN – IS IT A PROBLEM ON YOUR PROPERTY?

Most of us living in Minnesota for any length of time have heard the word ‘buckthorn’. Some even know that buckthorn is a non-native invasive plant that should be removed. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has classified buckthorn as a restricted noxious weed. If you own even a small woodland area in Minnesota, it is likely that buckthorn is a problem on your property.

If you are not a terrestrial invasive species specialist, you may lack the knowledge to identify buckthorn with confidence. Winter is an excellent time to learn to identify alien invasive buckthorn. The absence of leaves exposes the terminal bud, located at the tip of each twig. Similar to fingerprints, each species of tree and shrub, including buckthorn, have unique identifying features.

Common buckthorn terminal buds

Common buckthorn terminal buds

The terminal bud of common/European buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) appears as a pair of side-by-side buds that are dark brown to black in color, with a small spiny thorn protruding between the paired buds. (As you can see in the photo at left,) the terminal buds resemble the hoof print of a deer. Placement of the paired terminal buds across from each other may vary between opposite, sub-opposite and alternate.

Glossy buckthorn terminal bud

Glossy buckthorn terminal bud

Less prevalent, and looking nothing like common/European buckthorn, is another non-native species of buckthorn called glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus). The terminal bud of glossy buckthorn is fuzzy, rusty colored and naked (without bud scales). The terminal bud is actually a furled leaf that will unfold in the warmth of spring. Glossy buckthorn typically prefers to grow near wetlands in moist soil.

Once you have determined that non-native invasive buckthorn is a problem, it’s time to consider a control strategy. Buckthorn control is the first step in restoring the native woodland habitat that originally existed. Watch for my next blog segment to learn my preferred method of non-native invasive buckthorn control.

Cheryl
Landscape Restoration, Inc.

Posted in Buckthorn Control, Invasive Species | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments