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 a
