Doesn't that branch look like something you would love to have in your yard? If you don't have Buckthorn (rhamnus cathartica) on your property now, be very thankful and do everything in your power to nip it in the bud, as soon as you see it.
From what I have read on the Internet is that it was brought here in the 19th century from Europe, Asia, and Northwestern Africa as an ornamental shrub. I think that is how it came to be on our property. Why do I think that? I have two large specimens, one on each side of my driveway that had been trimmed into tree form. I also have them planted along my fence row by the street. Each plant or should I say average size tree, is planted the same distance from the fence and the same distance from each other in a manner that is deliberate and not happenstance. The original planter probably didn't have any idea that what they were planting would turn into a nightmare nearly 100 yrs later.
We recently removed the trees planted along the fence on the right side of the driveway but we still have trees to the left side and numerous little trees growing in my flower beds.
You can cut it down, but unless you get the roots it will grow back with vengeance. Once it gets established and grows to around 1 inch in diameter, it will start growing little black berries and thorns.
The thorns make removal a very slow and tedious process. My neighbor had a thorn go into his thumb and ended up in the emergency room. You can't pick up a pile of small branches with your hands. The safest method is to pick up one small branch at a time, being very careful to look completely around the branch where you intend to grab it. Just about the time you let your guard down and grab a branch quickly without inspecting it first, there will be a large thorn on the backside and you will find yourself doing the buckthorn dance while spewing every bad word you can think of to say.
YouTube video 8/27/2016 Duncan Slater
The above YouTube video shows up close photos of the leaves, berries, and bark. I will add that when the berries are ripe they will be a dark purple or black. And the bark of the immature tree is a burgundy color and slightly shiny like the bark on the photo of the thorn. At a glance they look somewhat like a cherry tree but don't be fooled.
Photo credit Creditvalleyca.ca
Those berries are lovely to look and the birds love them but that just helps to spread the seeds even further in your yard. The berries on a buckthorn are plentiful. There are areas on my property where the ground is covered in a thick layer of berries. But not anymore. We are on a mission. I know it will take years to rid the yard of these invasive plants but it's necessary. We can no longer turn a blind eye because they will take over our landscaping if we don't put a stop to it right now.
The link below is to an article published by Michigan State University and is quite informative.
You might have a different species depending on where you live and you can find photos of the different species on the Internet if you suspect that you have buckthorn in your yard but it doesn't look exactly like the kind we have in our yard.
Do you have this invasive species in your yard? If so, how did you get rid of it?
Reuse Repurpose Reecycle
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