If you own property in Minnesota — whether it’s a wooded lot, a rural acreage, a lakefront cabin, or a farm — there’s a good chance you’ve got buckthorn. It spreads fast, chokes out everything else, and doesn’t go away on its own.
Here’s what you need to know about buckthorn removal in Minnesota, and what actually works.
What Is Buckthorn?
Common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus) are invasive shrubs introduced from Europe and Asia in the 1800s. The Minnesota DNR lists buckthorn as a restricted noxious weed — illegal to sell, transport, or plant in the state.
How to Identify Buckthorn
- Thorny tips on branches — the telltale sign of common buckthorn
- Leaves that stay green late into fall, long after native plants have dropped theirs
- Dark purple-black berries ripening in late summer, spread by birds
- Orange-tinted inner bark — scrape a small branch to see it
- Glossy buckthorn lacks thorns but has shiny leaves with prominent veins
Why Buckthorn Is Such a Problem
It shades out natives. Dense canopy prevents wildflowers, seedlings, and native shrubs from establishing.
It alters soil chemistry to favor its own regrowth over native species.
It spreads aggressively — one mature plant produces thousands of berries per year. A light infestation becomes a full takeover in a few years.
It’s hard to kill. Cut without treating the stump and it comes back as multiple stems.
Buckthorn Removal Methods
Cut and Treat
Cut at the base and immediately treat the stump with triclopyr herbicide. Timing is critical — treatment must happen within minutes of the cut.
Foliar Treatment
Late fall foliar herbicide (after native plants drop their leaves, while buckthorn is still green) is highly targeted and effective.
Mechanical Removal
For large infestations, forestry mulching is the most efficient approach — grinding buckthorn into a mulch layer on-site. No burn piles, no hauling. Combine with follow-up herbicide for best results.
Follow-Up Is Critical
Buckthorn seeds remain viable in soil for years. Overseeding with native plants after removal is what separates long-term success from having to start over.
Best Time for Removal in Minnesota
- Late fall (Oct–Nov) — ideal for cut-and-treat and foliar herbicide
- Winter — great for mechanical removal; frozen ground protects soil
- Spring/summer — mechanical clearing works, but plan for follow-up
DCS Brush Control — Buckthorn Removal in the Twin Cities Area
DCS Brush Control specializes in large-scale invasive species removal in Prior Lake, Lakeville, Burnsville, Apple Valley, Savage, and throughout Dakota and Scott Counties. We use forestry mulching equipment — no burn piles, no hauling, no mess.
Contact DCS Brush Control for a free estimate. We serve the greater Minneapolis–Saint Paul metro and surrounding lake country.
