... to Protect and Improve the Diamond Lake Watershed ...
Events Calendar
Click event title for details
Buckthorn Information Links
Identifying Buckthorn - University of Minnesota Extension
Description & photos - Minnesota DNR
Alternatives for landscape plantings - Minnesota DNR
Saturday, Nov. 8
Post-Election Buckthorn Bust!
Why remove Buckthorn?
Buckthorn is an agressive, 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.
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 recongnize 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.
Stay informed of upcoming events—
Join the Friends of Diamond Lake email news list.
We won't send you junk, just occasional news of upcoming Friends of Diamond Lake events and important issues affecting Diamond Lake and its watershed.