Torching buckthorn

[Trinktrink]

I’ve been cutting a ton of buckthorn this winter and been stump spraying. I know I will have hundreds, if not thousands of seedlings coming up this spring. There’s not enough leaf litter to do a controlled burn. I was wondering if anyone has used a propane torch and had any success torching the seedlings in the spring? Or would I be better off using gyl?

 

[ChrisA]

I‘ve had success in the spring just pulling the small new shoots out by hand when the ground is still wet, as I can usually get all the roots that way, or at least enough so those plants don’t come back. After spring, I just wait until later summer/fall and cut and poison.

 

[homerj1]

Backpack sprayer and a brushkiller type herbicide. I've seen young buckthorn survive strong gly applications. If you want it dead, use the right herbicide.

 

[Apple Junkie]

First, let me start by saying I have never tried to eliminate buckthorn by torching the plants. That said, I don’t think that technique is going to kill the roots as effectively as spraying. Spraying in the spring/summer with glyphosate (50% concentration) is the recommended control method. As homerj1 mentions, you may need to hit it again if you don't get all of it the first time around. Of course, then you’re going to have a void, so give some thought to what you want to replace the buckthorn.

 

[Trinktrink]

Thanks for the advice guys.