Bucking Up Buckthorn

by John Burns, PCV Corps Administrative Coordinator

The streamsides of Arbutus Sanctuary haven’t looked so good for some years now.  Before we arrived to address the situation, glossy buckthorn (Frangula alnus) dominated the flood plains beside Tarbell Brook in Winchendon, Massachusetts.  With the help of a half-dozen volunteers, the Society’s Conservation Department staff cleared nearly every one of the buckthorn plants from along the stream’s banks.  Unfortunately, just cutting the trees doesn’t take care of the problem as stump sprouts shoot up the following year, multiplying the impact of this invasive.  Herbicide needs to be applied to the surface of each of the cut stumps, even the smallest whips. 

At one point in the day, Rob Held cut an enormous tree with a trunk diameter of about six inches, while Bruce Patterson pulled away the cuttings exposing the next victim.  Atkinson Fellow, Jordan Takvorian, was right behind with the purple-dyed herbicide, which is certified by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for use in wetlands.  Volunteers Arieh Tal, Gray Wexelblat, Jim Wickis, and Linda Kunhardt persistently toiled away at the seemingly infinite number of smaller sprouts, some no bigger than a pencil. 

By the end of the day, we could look back on a beautiful meadow which appeared much more natural than in the morning when it was hidden by glossy buckthorn.  The view reminded us to continue spreading the word; property owners need to be aggressive early on in removing invasives on their property before they get a foothold.