Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 04/08/2021

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4. Removal and mitigation strategies In large tracts of buckthorn infestation, large mature plants should be removed first through a cut and chemical procedure. After the large plants have been cleared from an area, smaller plants and saplings can much more easily be removed through pulling. - Tagging and cutting the plant Using a non -toxic marking paint, mark plants to be cut 8-10" off the ground, and cut with a saw or sturdy pruners. Cut above the mark, so that the stumps can still be identified for herbicide application after cutting. Berries Because buckthorn seeds can remain viable in soil for many years before sprouting, extra care should be taken when working with plants that have fruited to keep these seed bearing fruits on the plant, and off the ground. Removal of woody and leafy material While male, or non -berry bearing plants may be removed from the site and set aside to be disposed of without further precautions, plants with berries should be carefully extracted from the site, taking special care to not drop the berries on the ground, then collected on a tarp, sheet, or other material that would prevent berries from dropping off the plant on to the ground. If working with a Natural Resources or Forestry department, arrangements should already have been made for the cut trees to be collected and disposed of properly by staff. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources guide to the removal and disposal of noxious weeds has guidelines for the appropriate destruction of removed material if you are an individual not working with a formal organization. Chemical herbicide on stumps Chemical control for cut stumps include treating the stump immediately after cutting (within 2 hours) with an herbicide containing triclopyr (Garton 3A/Vastlan, Garton 4, or other brush killers with triclopyr) or glyphosate (Roundup) to prevent re -sprouting. Herbicides can be applied to cut stumps with a paint -brush, wick applicator such as a dauber, or a low volume sprayer. Returning to the site Seeds from the fruit stay viable in soil for many years, so repeated treatments and long-term monitoring are required. Without follow-up control, buckthorn will come back. 5. Conclusion Common Buckthorn, and its relatives such as Glossy Buckthorn, which was widely distributed through the plant and nursery industry, have run roughshod through Minnesota's forests, wreaking ecological havoc on our precious natural environments. Though care must be taken in any invasive species eradication project, the degree in which buckthorn can impair the forest understory, and the vigor in which it thrives under myriad conditions, demands extra care be taken in order to permanently end this woody shrub's dominance where it doesn't belong. 25