"Groundbreaking U-of-M Research Challenges Buckthorn Management Practices"

A University of Minnesota research team has discovered that previous management strategies for combating Buckthorn, an invasive species, were based on incorrect assumptions. The team found that 97% of Buckthorn seeds germinate in the first year, debunking the belief that the seeds could last up to six years in the soil. This new information allows for more effective management practices that target smaller Buckthorn plants, which create dense mats and harm native plants. The best time to address Buckthorn is in late October and November when its dark green leaves are easily visible against the fall landscape.