Some buckthorn removal companies charge by the hour and rates range from $40 – $60 per hour per person. Other buckthorn eradication services charge by the job, which means the estimator would stop by your property to inspect the project and propose a flat rate. The overall price really depends on the job requirements. It’ll cost more if the buckthorn has grown into mature trees with a trunk larger than 4 inches in diameter. In that case, a chainsaw will be required and a tree removal company will need to be hired (not a landscape company). If the buckthorn are on a steep incline or hilly terrain, that will also increase the total cost. On the positive side, it won’t cost as much if you don’t need the brush hauled away. In other words, the price will go down if you have a place on your property where the buckthorn can be piled up.

Buckthorn doesn’t have natural controls such as insects or disease that would reduce the intensity of it’s growth. It outcompetes native plants for moisture, light and nutrients. This creates a toxic environment for natural growth of the non-invasive species you actually want to thrive. Buckthorn hinders the flourishing wildlife that should occur in forestry areas. Because of this, buckthorn endangers natural habitats such as prairies and wetlands. Buckthorn is Minnesota’s most ecologically damaging invasive plant for both private landowners and public land professionals working within forest and agricultural contexts.

Toward the end of summer, mature buckthorns produce clusters of black berries. If you have buckthorn that generates berries, then you are gonna want to go after those first. Buckthorn with berries are the ones responsible for spreading this invasive species. Why? The main reason is because the dark berries are attractive to animals who distribute the seeds, which causes new buckthorn seedlings to germinate. Ironically, the berries are not a good source of food. They are high in carbohydrates and low in protein, and even have a severe laxative impact on some animals. The berries cause severe cramping and diarrhea in humans, so little children should be kept out of areas where buckthorn berries have fallen.

There are two main types of buckthorn: common and glossy. Buckthorn is a tall shrub that can turn into a mid-sized tree up to 25 feet tall. They have brown bark with elongate silvery corky projections. The twigs have small and sharp thorns on the end. If you cut a branch it will show yellow sapwood and orange heartwood. Buckthorn leaves are oval, 1-2 inches long, and are finely toothed along the edges. The leaves are unique in that they have 2-3 pairs of prominent veins that curve toward the leaf tip. They have an extensive fiber-like root structure. The leaves stay green until late fall, which is why it’s easier to identify buckthorn in November when its leaves are still green and all other trees have brown leaves.

Late summer or anytime in the fall tend to provide the best conditions for cutting down buckthorn and treating them with chemicals. Try to avoid treating buckthorn in spring (April or May) as those months are when the tree is putting out leaves. This will minimize the effectiveness of the herbicide. The best time to treat buckthorn is in the fall season (September, October or November) when the sap is headed towards the roots. It can be treated effectively during the summer months (June, July or August) but the conditions are not optimal with very hot weather.

Smaller sized buckthorn that is up to 1 inch in diameter can be dug out with a shovel. If the buckthorn is around 2 inches thick, it’s best to use a lopper or hand saw to clip the stem a few inches above ground level. You can use a Pullerbear to completely remove buckthorn up to 3 inches in diameter. For buckthorn wider than 4 inches you should use a chainsaw. You can even hire a herd of goats to graze on buckthorn infested areas.

Once you’ve clipped the buckthorn down to the stems, you’ll need to immediately apply a water-soluble glyphosate product like Bonide or RoundUp. Herbicide should be applied onto the stump within a few seconds so the chemicals can soak into the root system and prevent resprouting. These chemicals can be applied with a paint brush or a wick applicator such as a buckthorn blaster, a dauber or a sprayer. Avoid contact with your skin. Treat only the cut surface of the buckthorn stump as that is the only part that is given to resprouting. If the herbicide doesn’t make contact with the exposed stump, then it will have no negative effect on the buckthorns health.

If you are concerned about the environment and don’t want to pollute the ground with toxic chemicals, then I have good news for your buckthorn problem: there is an organic way to remove buckthorn! Once the buckthorn has been cut and the stump is exposed, you can cover it with a tin can to discourage regrowth. Even better than a tin can is a Buckthorn Baggie, which is a business that led the charge by inventing this eco-friendly strategy. The plastic bag, once ziptied over the stump, will suffocate the stem over the course of 12-24 months, so long as the bag covers the entire stump all the way to ground level.

Yes, it is permissible to burn buckthorn brush but it must be a controlled fire in accordance with city guidelines. If you have a firepit that is a legal distance away from your home, then that would be a good place to burn your brush pile. If the buckthorn hasn’t yet been removed from the ground, then a fire may be helpful with buckthorn eradication. Why? Because fire will kill seedlings and stems in upland locations. Buckthorn control typically will be evident after the first burn, though it may take a few burns over the course of 1-2 years. The downside to this approach is that good trees and saplings will die along with the buckthorn. So I only recommend to burn buckthorn if the entire woods is densely infested and there are minimal non-invasive trees you want preserved.

There are many landscape companies and tree removal services out there but only a few of them actually specialize in buckthorn removal, so your shopping options may be limited. But in the event that you have more than one buckthorn removal service to choose from, here are 5 questions that you should ask before picking one: 1. Do you have a warranty that guarantees the buckthorn won’t grow back? If so, how many years does it extend? 2. What is your process for removing buckthorn? 3. Do you dispose of the brush or is that the customers responsibility? 4. How many years have you offered buckthorn removal services? 5. Do you have reviews online that verify you’ve made other residential customers happy? Click here to get a free buckthorn removal quote from His Workmanship.