Diamond Lake Water Lillies. Photo © Michelle F. Johnson 2007.

Buckthorn Busted Again!

More than a dozen volunteers combed the wooded areas surrounding Diamond Lake with “weed wrenches,” saws, and loppers, removing lots of invasive Buckthorn Saturday, October 24. This is the second year Friends of Diamond Lake organized the event. Numerous tree-sized, berry-laden plants were removed, and it was also clear that previous years' efforts paid off, as volunteers found some areas with little Buckthorn growing.

Although buckthorn removal and control is a big job, a little help from everyone goes a long way in curbing the spread of this destructive and invasive species. Many thanks to all of those who gave their time and muscle!

Although it may be chilly, fall is one of the best times for buckthorn removal. Most other plants have shed their leaves or changed colors, but buckthorn retains its green leaves throughout the fall, making it easy for volunteers to identify.

Why remove Buckthorn?

Buckthorn is an aggressive, nonnative woody plant that, left alone, will crowd out native plant species.

It spreads quickly, in part because its berries have a "laxative effect" on the birds who eat them. The seeds are very quickly "replanted" within a half mile of the area in which they were eaten.

Buckthorn lacks natural controls such as disease or insects, contributes to erosion by shading out other plants that typically grow on the forest floor, provides a home for pests such as crown rust fungus and soybean aphids and prevents the natural diversity that makes Minnesota beautiful.

It is illegal to grow or sell Buckthorn in Minnesota, though it used to be commonly planted as hedges.

If you find this little green invader in your yard, it is important to remove it. For plants less than 1/2" diameter, you can easily pull them up by the roots--especially in damp soil. Larger plants may be pulled with a mechanical puller. Plants that are a few inches in diameter can be cut or sawed off at the soil level. The remaining stumps must be carefully painted with RoundUp so it will not grow back.

It's easy to recognize in November, because it is one of the few plants that remains green after a hard frost.

For more information on identifying and removing Buckthorn, visit the University of Minnesota Extension Service.