Buckthorn

[dado potato]

Buckthorn is an invasive shrub, which is a host to the soybean aphid. Buckthorn tends to take over the understory in the forest, denying light to native plants and poisoning the soil, so established native trees die.

This summer I realized buckthorn was encroaching on my lot from three sides (the fourth side being a paved lane). Most of the buckthorn coming up beneath my spruce trees can be pulled up by hand. For the larger specimens (to 2" trunk diameter) I bought a Weed Wrench, which provides the fulcrum and leverage I need... I have pulled about 40 buckthorns with the Weed Wrench, and I may need it in years to come. I have mentioned buckthorn to my next door neighbor and offered to lend the Weed Wrench to him for a couple days at a time, if he should decide to eradicate the buckthorn on his side of the trees on the property line.

I feel I must be tactful with the neighbor, conscious of his privacy and his pride in his own landscaping.

I have pulled about 90% of the buckthorn that was encroaching. Now I have a huge pile of slash. I plan to go back to the pile continuously during warm weather months, to lop the branches into shorter lengths, and thus to make a denser pile of slash to slowly decompose... all the while providing a comfortable home for the Bobwhite Quail, which I already can hear from time to time in the vicinity of the slash pile.

I use a bow saw for specimens larger than 2" in diameter. I am conflicted about buying Arlan herbicide (recommended by Ag Extension) to treat the stumps... but if I don't do something to kill the root, I am afraid the stumps will just sprout new growth, like a coppice of buckthorn.

Today I walked among some of the larger female specimens, and I pruned their branches that were bearing fruit. The purple berries are a purgative for birds. "Oh Happy Day!" Wearing gloves I nipped buckthorn berries into a pail. Then I built a small fire and topped the kindling with the berries. I must say it was a pleasure to listen to the berries sizzling and hissing in the fire. (I understand that the buckthorn seeds in soil are viable for 10 years or more.)

Have you had experiences battling buckthorn? Buckthorn Stories Welcome Here!

[herbgeek]

Not familiar with buckthorn. Bittersweet is my nemesis. It climbs over everything and chokes it out. I feel your pain, even though my pain is a different plant.

[iris lilies]

Buckthorn shrubs are sold here as an ornamental.

Ours are probably a hybrid.

[rosarugosa]

I know buckthorn is a problem around here, but I think Japanese knotweed and bittersweet and black swallowwort are bigger issues. then there is garlic mustard and Asian jumping worms . . .

[catherine]

I mentioned in the reading thread that I am currently reading this book: Flying Blind: One Man’s Adventures Battling Buckthorn, Making Peace with Authority, and Creating a Home for Endangered Bats. (https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/flying-blind/)

Just based on what you wrote about, I think you would love this book. The author, Don Mitchell, struck a deal with VT Fish and Wildlife to provide a habitat for bats, but part of the deal was that he had to get rid of the buckthorn in the part of the forest that was going to be home to the bats. He tells a really fun tale about how he approached getting rid of a couple of acres of buckthorn and garlic mustard. He winds up using a variety of techniques to get rid of the buckthorn: hand pulling, pulling with pliers, tools like the one you used, and he actually did to a lot of soul searching but wound up painting RoundUp on the stumps that could not be removed.

I really think you would enjoy that book. I'm glad the bulk of your work is done!

[iris lilies]

I cant see how Roundup is expected to work on stumps, unless he means he hit the suckers coming up around them with Roundup. Probavly that is what he meant. That would require repeated hits of Roundup.

[dado potato]

I mentioned in the reading thread that I am currently reading this book: Flying Blind: One Man’s Adventures Battling Buckthorn, Making Peace with Authority, and Creating a Home for Endangered Bats. (https://www.chelseagreen.com/product/flying-blind/)

Just based on what you wrote about, I think you would love this book. The author, Don Mitchell, struck a deal with VT Fish and Wildlife to provide a habitat for bats, but part of the deal was that he had to get rid of the buckthorn in the part of the forest that was going to be home to the bats. He tells a really fun tale about how he approached getting rid of a couple of acres of buckthorn and garlic mustard. He winds up using a variety of techniques to get rid of the buckthorn: hand pulling, pulling with pliers, tools like the one you used, and he actually did to a lot of soul searching but wound up painting RoundUp on the stumps that could not be removed.

I really think you would enjoy that book. I'm glad the bulk of your work is done!

I have ordered the book. Thank you for the recommendation.

12 or 13 years ago, about this time of year, we visited Bennington and Burlington. Vermont struck me as a splendidly beautiful state populated by great individualists. I suspect that Don Mitchell would be one!

[catherine]

I cant see how Roundup is expected to work on stumps, unless he means he hit the suckers coming up around them with Roundup. Probavly that is what he meant. That would require repeated hits of Roundup.

He used some really high commercial concentration--not your typical weed killer concentration. I think it was 22%. Then he applied it to each stump with a paintbrush. That was the recommendation of VT F&W. Apparently it worked.

[iris lilies]

He used some really high commercial concentration--not your typical weed killer concentration. I think it was 22%. Then he applied it to each stump with a paintbrush. That was the recommendation of VT F&W. Apparently it worked.
Ok, still not sure how it acts on straight wood, but ok. I would not expect that to kill suckers coming up at stump edges, edges even at 100% concentration.

I have stumps with sucker growth to test this on….

[catherine]

Ok, still not sure how it acts on straight wood, but ok. I would not expect that to kill suckers coming up at stump edges, edges even at 100% concentration.

I have stumps with sucker growth to test this on….

Well, in this case, the suckers were handled differently. But apparently you can only use the paint-on method after you've freshly cut the stumps. Then it works on the stumps. All the smaller growth should be pulled mechanically.

[iris lilies]

Well, in this case, the suckers were handled differently. But apparently you can only use the paint-on method after you've freshly cut the stumps. Then it works on the stumps. All the smaller growth should be pulled mechanically.

then I do not understand what “working on the stumps” means. What change takes place with Roundup?

I would discuss this with my arborist, but he is in Hermann at the moment.

[catherine]

then I do not understand what “working on the stumps” means. What change takes place with Roundup?

I would discuss this with my arborist, but he is in Hermann at the moment.

The glyphosate infiltrates the stump, kills it, and prevents more spreading. Eventually I assume the wood would just rot.

BTW, @dado, I hope you like the book! Your read on VT and Vermonters is spot-on. Very beautiful state, and very individualistic people.

[dado potato]

BTW, @dado, I hope you like the book! Your read on VT and Vermonters is spot-on. Very beautiful state, and very individualistic people.

The book arrived in my mailbox yesterday. I have read into the first chapter "Habitat", truly enjoying it! Thanks again for the recommendation.

[catherine]

The book arrived in my mailbox yesterday. I have read into the first chapter "Habitat", truly enjoying it! Thanks again for the recommendation.

So glad! Hope you continue to enjoy it.