Originally published in the Park Bugle, August 2025.
If you’ve strolled along Robbins Avenue lately, you may have spotted yellow ribbons tied around some oddly pruned trees. That’s not a forgotten art project – it’s part of a neighborhood effort to reclaim our urban woods from one of the most aggressive invasive species in Minnesota: common buckthorn. These small trees and shrubs may look unassuming, but they wreak havoc on our local ecosystems, pushing out native understory plants and altering soil chemistry. That’s why SAPCC’s Environment Committee – known affectionately as the “Buckthorn Busters” – has returned to the site this summer with loppers, saws, and a plan.
“Buckthorn doesn’t give up easily,” said committee member Kerry Morgan. “But we’re using a technique called critical period cutting to keep it from growing back.” The team strips the buckthorn of its leaves during the peak growing season, robbing it of the energy it needs to survive winter.
The process is repeated over two years – no herbicide needed. “It’s slow work,” added Reyd Jordan, another committee regular. “But by spring 2027, we’re hoping to restore this area with native shrubs and pollinator-friendly perennials. It’s about bringing balance back.” Thanks to the dedication of these beighborhood volunteers, the future of this little patch of green looks a whole lot brighter – and more biodiverse.
Interested in environmental issues or volunteering? The SAPCC Environment Committee meets the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. All are welcome – visit sapcc.org/ to learn more.