Buckthorn, be gone!
By Jac
We have been sharing ideas of things to grow in your yard. But there are some plants you do NOT want growing in your yard, which includes invasive species like buckthorn! Read on to learn how to spot these in your yard and what to do if you find one.
Together we can learn, do, and participate in everyday environmental actions that make our community more healthy, more beautiful, and more environmentally friendly for all.
Learn: What is buckthorn? We love native plants, which have grown in our area for thousands of years. Non-natives aren't always too bad either, especially if they can provide food for wildlife and pollinators, and don't take over the landscape. But then there are invasive species.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, an invasive species is defined as a plant, animal, or other microorganism that is non-native to an area ecosystem, and the introduction of that non-native species is likely to cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health.
One of the biggest challenges with invasive species is they have no natural predators to regulate their growth and spread. Unchecked, they will often out compete native species for resources like food, space, water and sunlight, eventually causing them to die. Invasive species can lead to the extinction of native plants and animals, destroy biodiversity, and permanently alter habitats. And it is expensive to manage invasive species - recent studies indicate the U.S. spends a minimum of $35B a year dealing with them!
One of the more problematic species of our region is buckthorn. This plant is commonly found throughout the Midwest and reproduces quickly and freely. Buckthorns produce berries which are spread by birds, creating more buckthorn seedlings. Additionally, buckthorn has a chemical in its roots that suppresses the growth of surrounding area plants. Its leaves and berries are toxic to humans and animals (birds only eat when there are no other sources of food). Because of all these factors and the character of the plant, as it grows, it creates dense thickets that crowd out all other trees as well as flowers.
You can recognize buckthorn by its oval, glossy leaves (like in our picture!) that stay green in the fall when other trees change colors. The bark also has some shine and silvery/white spots to it.
Hopefully you do not have buckthorn in your yard, but if you do, we share some tips below about how to manage it!
Do: Actions to Take How do you get rid of buckthorn?
Learn to identify buckthorn! Here is a very helpful visual from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Buckthorn are easiest to manage when they are small. Watch for seedlings and pull them before they grow.
If you pull a small to medium size buckthorn, keep in mind the seeds can stay in the soil for several years. Watch the area for new growth
If you have a large buckthorn, we recommend working with an arborist to remove or you may also contact the Morton Arboretum Plant Clinic for advice!
If you are removing several at a time, focus on the berry producing sections first to stop the spread of additional buckthorn
We found additional tips for managing buckthorn here
Participate: Join local restoration days with the Park District, Forest Preserve and other organizations. Sign up for our newsletter and at the end, we point out the local opportunities to participate.
