How to Kill Buckthorn - the Easiest and Most Effective Way!

This video describes how to do a cut stump herbicide treatment to kill a weed tree. In this case, the treatment is being done on common buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica). Generally (with some exceptions), the best time to kill a woody plant is during its dormant season. In this case, the treatment is being done in very early spring before phloem sap starts rising. The worst time to do the treatment is just before or at the height of leaf flush in the spring.
Here are the steps for doing a cut stump or cut surface treatment:
0:52 First, cut off the upper branches of the weed tree. You soon will be cutting the main stem near the ground level. By cutting off the upper branches first, you make sure that weed tree won't tip over on you when you cut it at the base. Second, by cutting off the upper branches, you are making it easier to cut the main stem at the base.
1:00 Second, cut the tree stem (or trunk) about a half-inch to an inch above the ground. Don't cut so close to the ground that dirt gets on the stump face. Also, don't cut too high. The higher you cut the tree, the farther the weed killer has to travel to reach the roots of the tree.
1:24 Third, clean off the stump face. If there is any dirt on the stump face, this will neutralize the herbicide. If there is saw dust or saw chips, those will absorb herbicide and move that herbicide away from the target during the next rain. You don't want either of those to happen.
1:27 Fourth, apply the herbicide to the cut stump. Apply the herbicide as quickly as possible after you finish making the cut, i.e., within a minute or so. Why is this so important? The cut stem will start sealing off that wound very quickly. You want to get the herbicide onto the cut stump before the cut stump is sealed. Don't worry. If you need to, you can always re-cut the stem just a little lower and apply the foam herbicide to the re-cut stump face. Also, be sure you apply the herbicide to the outside perimeter of the stem. The weed killer will be moved to the roots via the phloem. The phloem is located just inside the outer bark.

[@irishvoyageur]

What is the active ingredient? How large of diameter stump can be treated with this method?

[@GreenShoots]

Good questions! The active ingredient I used in this video was glyphosate - about 20% active ingredient. However, you can also use triclopyr on buckthorn. I typically use 8% ai with triclopyr. You can treat any size stump with this method. However, try to treat the live inner bark within 10-20 minutes of cutting. On a really large stump that can be difficult.

[@pinklemonade1300]

A link to the product you used would be helpful

[@GreenShoots]

here's one: www.greenshootsonline.com/collections/packages/products/package-small-foam-herbicide-dispenser There is a link in the lower right corner of the video screen (as prominent as Google will allow). Thanks for the response!