Extractigator: A Solution to a Thorny Problem
You may have Buckthorn trees on your property and you may not even know they are there. It is a small shrub or tree that came to North America in the 1880s to be used as an ornamental shrub or as a windbreak around homes and fields. Buckthorn is invasive, spreads aggressively and tolerates many habitats. In our region around Loughborough Lake they can form dense thickets that crowd and shade out native plants. Buckthorn seeds are profuse and are carried by birds to germinate widely.
How can you identify it? Buckthorn is usually the first tree to leaf out and the last to drop its leaves. Trees grow from two to six meters (6-18 feet) tall with leaves that are egg-shaped and finely toothed. The leaves are arranged in opposing pairs along the stem. Most branches older than one year end in a short, sharp thorn. In the fall clusters of purplish black berries are produced.
How can you remove Buckthorn? The Lake Association was fortunate to get a grant from Watersheds Canada and the Gottlieb Foundation to purchase 2 Extractigators, which is a plant pulling tool used to remove Buckthorn trees, roots and all! It is a Canadian invention that uses the operator’s weight and leverage to uproot the tree. It is effective, easy to use, and quite remarkable in action.
The Lake Association will be lending out the Extractigators to any lake homeowner to remove this invasive tree, whether they are a member or not. There are two models to choose from, the Big Daddy at 18.5 lbs is for larger trees and the Classic at 12.5 lbs for trees up to 5cm (2inches) in diameter or when working on a slope.
We will be offering on the ground instruction as needed throughout the spring and summer to those who want to remove Buckthorn from their properties. Removing Buckthorn from our properties is a big win for our lake's birds, animals and native plants. Contact us if you would like to borrow one, or both, of these amazing tools.
