Buckthorn Management

There is no simple answer on how to remove buckthorn. There are a lot of different techniques that vary in effectiveness depending on the size of the plant and the time of year. They all have their pros and cons. Because of that, we've created a decision tree to help individuals find the best technique to fit their situation.

There are also a lot of ways to display information, so the buckthorn decision tree has been turned into two different PDFs:

 

Here are a couple great resources to learn more about these management techniques.

  • WIGL (Woody Invasives of the Great Lakes Collaborative)
  • MN DNR

 

There are also a couple posts about a relatively new control method (currently being used in parts of Hazelnut Park & Chatham Trails Park) known as either the “High Cut Method” or "Critical Period Cutting.'  

 

Another option for people who have a small number of mature buckthorn (too large to pull up) and don't want to use herbicides is light exclusion, such as with Buckthorn Baggies. If you would like to try a few, but don't want to buy a pack of 25, contact us. (local residents only)

For Arden Hills residents with young trees that you'd like to pull up, you can borrow a weed wrench from the city for one week for free (if available). You can find the application HERE.