Buckthorn Management
Buckthorn is an invasive, non-native plant species that threatens Minnesota's natural resources. It spreads very quickly and outcompetes native plants for nutrients, light and moisture. It can also degrade wildlife habitat, serve as a host for pests and contribute to erosion, among other things.
As a non-native plant, buckthorn is not used by wildlife for nourishment or habitat and interferes with natural ecosystems.
Current projects (buckthorn removal and forest restoration)
The city is partnering with the nonprofit organization Great River Greening on several projects involving the removal of buckthorn and restoration of native habitat. This work is partially funded by state grant dollars. The following areas are being enhanced through this process:
- Bass Lake Preserve: 2021 – 2026
- Great River Greening project manager: Todd Rexine, 651.272.3992
- Oak Hill Park Louisiana Oaks Park: 2021 – 2024
- Westwood Hills Nature Center: 2021 – 2024
- Great River Greening project manager: Rebecca Tucker, 651.272.3982
Buckthorn and other woody invasive plants will be removed from these sites by methods, which may include forestry mowing, cut stump treatment and targeted foliar herbicide application. Once buckthorn has been controlled, native shrubs, grasses and forbs will be planted in order to establish understory woodland habitat.
How is the city managing buckthorn?
To help manage the spread of buckthorn, the city has created a Buckthorn Management Program for city properties, primarily parks, where the majority of buckthorn is found. The management plan is broken into three distinct management objectives:
- Eradication parks – minimal to no buckthorn infestation
- Control parks – higher, but manageable buckthorn infestation
- Low-priority parks – extremely infested, management efforts are impractical
The focus and emphasis of the buckthorn management program is on the eradication and control parks.
View the buckthorn management program map(PDF, 763KB).
Residential buckthorn removal
The city encourages residents to remove buckthorn from their yards. By leaving it in your yard, particularly the female, berry-producing plants, there is a greater chance of it spreading through your neighborhood.
If you are unsure what buckthorn looks like, the city offers free consultations to help you identify it.
When to remove
Fall (through winter) is the best time to remove buckthorn from your yard. During this timeframe, buckthorn leaves will be green while native plant leaves will have turned color or dropped to the ground, making it easier to distinguish between the two. Also, female buckthorn plants will keep their black berries well into early winter, providing another way to identify it.
How to remove
Buckthorn can be removed mechanically or chemically. With either option, the stump must be killed, or the plant will re-sprout and continue to grow.
- Uproot/pull up the plant — Buckthorn can be pulled out by hand or with a weed wrench. Some hardware stores will rent out weed wrenches. The city also loans out weed wrenches at no cost for plants that are less than 1 inch in diameter. Contact Leah Johnson at 952.928.1404 for more information.
- Cut stems to the ground and chemically treat them — Apply a chemical treatment to the stems, stump and exposed root flares soon after cutting them. The most common treatments are Glyphosate (Roundup) or Tryclopyamine (Ortho Brush B-Gon). Chemicals applied in the fall or winter months are effective because the plant is dormant, and the herbicide is transported to the root system.
After removal, plants can be cut into 4-foot lengths, bundled and set out for your weekly yard waste collection. Removed plants can also be brought to the brush drop-off site for free disposal.
Note: It is important to monitor and continue treating the area if needed since buckthorn seeds can remain viable for up to five years in the soil.
Buckthorn management grants
The city often seeks out grants to help support and improve the services we provide to residents and the city as a whole.
Below is a list of the current grants the city has to assist with buckthorn management.
Metro Big Rivers Habitat – Phase 11
This is an ecological restoration grant funding the removal of the remaining buckthorn at Bass Lake Park Preserve and the installation of replacement plant materials. This is in partnership with Great River Greening who manages the project.
- Funding organization: State of Minnesota Outdoor Heritage Fund
- Maximum duration: 2021 – 2026
Pollinator Central: Habitat Improvement with Citizen Monitoring
This is an ecological restoration grant funding the removal of buckthorn at Oak Hill Park, Louisiana Oaks Park and phase four removal at Westwood Hills Nature Center. Replacement plantings are also included in this grant with organized volunteer events used for installation. This is in partnership with Great River Greening who manages the project.
- Funding organization: State of Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (LCCMR)
- Maximum duration: 2021 – 2024