Not every buckthorn problem requires professional help. If you have a manageable number of plants, the right tools, and a willingness to do the follow-up work, you can tackle a small buckthorn invasion on your own. This guide walks you through the process from start to finish.
What You'll Need
Before you start, gather the following:
For cutting:
- Loppers for stems up to 1.5 inches in diameter
- A pruning saw or reciprocating saw for larger stems
- Work gloves and eye protection
- Long pants and long sleeves (buckthorn thorns are real)
For stump treatment:
- Triclopyr-based herbicide (look for products containing triclopyr amine or triclopyr ester, such as Garlon 3A, Garlon 4, or consumer products like Crossbow)
- A small foam brush or paint brush for applying herbicide to stumps
- A spray bottle for foliar treatment of seedlings
General:
- Trash bags or tarps for debris
- Flagging tape to mark treated plants
Always read and follow herbicide label instructions. Wear gloves when handling herbicides and avoid applying on windy days or when rain is expected within 24 hours.
Step 1: Identify and Map Your Buckthorn
Walk your property and get a clear sense of the size of your problem before you start cutting. Look for:
- Thorns at the tips of branches (common buckthorn)
- Orange inner bark when a small stem is scratched
- Dark berries in late summer and fall
- Plants holding green leaves in late fall after native plants have dropped theirs
If you're dealing with scattered plants across a limited area, DIY removal is realistic. If you're looking at a dense thicket covering more than a quarter acre, or plants with stems larger than four to five inches in diameter, the job will likely be faster and more effective with professional equipment and labor.
Not sure what you're looking at? See our guide to identifying buckthorn on your property.
Step 2: Cut at the Base
Cut all buckthorn stems as close to the ground as possible. A clean, flat cut gives you the best surface area for herbicide application.
A few tips:
- Work from the outside of a thicket inward so you have room to move
- For multi-stemmed plants, cut each stem individually
- Don't let cut stems fall onto other plants you want to keep
- If the plant has berries, bag and dispose of all berry-bearing stems separately to avoid spreading seeds
Step 3: Treat the Stump Immediately
This step is critical and must be done within minutes of cutting, not hours. As soon as you cut a stem, apply your herbicide directly to the cut surface. Cover the entire cut face, paying attention to the outer ring of vascular tissue just inside the bark.
Use a foam brush or small paint brush for precise application. A little goes a long way.
The best time of year for cut-stump treatment is late summer through early winter (August through December). Fall treatments are particularly effective because the plant is pulling carbohydrates down into its roots, carrying the herbicide with them. See our post on the best time of year for buckthorn removal for more detail on seasonal timing.
If you are working in spring or early summer, be aware that freshly cut stumps may bleed sap heavily, which can dilute the herbicide. Let the sap slow before treating, or use an oil-based triclopyr product which bonds better in wet conditions.
Step 4: Manage Debris
Buckthorn brush can be:
- Chipped on-site if you have access to a chipper
- Piled and left to decompose in an out-of-the-way location
- Bundled and placed at the curb if your municipality accepts yard waste
Do not chip or compost berry-bearing stems, as seeds can survive and spread. Bag those separately.
Step 5: Plan for Follow-Up
This is the step most DIY removals skip, and it's why so many properties end up with a worse problem than before.
Mark your calendar for the following spring and summer. Return to the treated area and look for:
- Resprouts from treated stumps (treat again immediately)
- New seedlings emerging from the soil seed bank (treat with foliar herbicide when they're small)
You will almost certainly see regrowth in year one. That's normal. The goal is to stay ahead of it each season until the seed bank is depleted, which typically takes two to three years of consistent follow-up.
For a full explanation of why untreated stumps cause such severe regrowth, read our post on what happens when you cut without treating.
When DIY Becomes a Bigger Job
DIY buckthorn removal works well for:
- Properties with fewer than 20–30 plants
- Stems under three inches in diameter
- Situations where access is easy and debris management is straightforward
If your situation involves any of the following, a professional removal is likely to be more cost-effective in the long run:
- Dense thickets that require brush clearing before you can even reach the plants
- Steep slopes, ravines, or wet areas that make safe access difficult
- Large-diameter trees (over four inches) that require chainsaw work
- Very large seed bank populations requiring herbicide programs across multiple seasons
We're happy to help assess where your situation falls. If the job is larger than you expected, or if a previous DIY attempt has left you with aggressive regrowth, reach out to us. We offer free property assessments and can give you an honest recommendation on whether professional help makes sense, or whether a targeted treatment program is all you need.
Either way, the most important thing is not to walk away from the problem after the first cut.