Do you have Buckthorn trees in your yard?

Buckthorn Removal in Ypsilanti, MI

   One of the biggest nuisances to the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti area landscape is the Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus Cathartica). Not only is this tree not aesthetically pleasing, but it is an invasive species that spreads like wild fire. If left to it's own devices, it can turn garden beds into brambles in a short amount of time.
​   Buckthorns are easy to identify. They have gray bark, pointed, oval shaped leaves and thorns that can stick out up to two inches from their branches. In the fall they will produce purple/black berries. Where there is one Buckthorn there are usually many. Cherry or Plum trees can be misidentified as Buckthorns. Fortunately, Buckthorns are one of the very last trees to lose their leaves. They also have minimal color change causing them to stand out in a sea of orange and red come late October. Lastly, Buckthorn leaves have curved veins while Plum and Cherry leaf veins are straight..     

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   ​Once the tree has been positively identified as Common Buckthorn, the best course of action is to have the tree removed. Simply getting rid of surrounding saplings will help clean up garden beds but as long as the tree is present, the berries will continue to be dropped around the tree and spread about by birds. These trees do not typically grow taller than twenty-five feet. This means as long as the problem is taken care of in the beginning stages, it is relatively affordable. Not only will Buckthorn removal make your yard more attractive and hassle free, it will help your neighbors and the Ann Arbor areas ecosystem as a whole.

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