Common Buckthorn first appeared in Minnesota in the mid-1800s by way of Europe. It was popular as a hedging material, but people soon discovered that it was also quite invasive. Buckthorn was such a problem that the nursery industry here stopped selling it as far back as the 1930s. However, many Buckthorn hedges, trees, and plants remain in older neighborhoods in Minnesota. Yours may even be one of them.
 
Damage Caused by Invasive Buckthorn
The Minnesota Noxious Weed Law prohibits the sale, transport, and propagation of invasive Buckthorn. Unfortunately, some businesses choose to ignore this law in the interest of profits. It may also still be available for sale in other states. You cannot bring it back to Minnesota or neighboring Wisconsin since it has a noxious weed law as well. 

The glossy Buckthorn is especially problematic. The Columnaris comes in a tall and narrow form while the Aspenofolia and the Ron Williams contain narrow leaves that cause them to take on the appearance of a fern. All three types aggressively invade wetlands such as sage meadows, fens, and acidic bogs. Some of the other specific issues caused by Buckthorn include: 
 

Click here to see photos of common types of Buckthorn.

We Remove All Types of Invasive Buckthorn
The Lawnsmith is available to identify Buckthorn on your property, remove it, and dispose of it appropriately. This is especially important if you have fruit-bearing Buckthorn trees. You could do it yourself, but the job is time-consuming and labor-intensive. This time of year is busy enough without worrying about unknowingly breaking a state law or the damage causes by this invasive species. We’re here to help, so just give us a call at your convenience to schedule Buckthorn removal. 

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Your lawn mower has faithfully seen you through weekly mowing sessions in late spring, summer, and early fall. Now that fall is about to give way to winter, it is time to put it into storage until next spring. However, doing so isn’t as simple as placing it in the garage and forgetting about it for months. After the last mow of the season, you need to take several steps to ensure that you store it safely. Taking an hour or two now will also keep the mower in good working condition until you need to use it again.

Step-by-Step Guide to Preparing Your Push Mower for Storage
Leaving unused gasoline in a lawn mower while it sits in your garage for months is just inviting trouble. Not only is this a fire hazard, it also invites rust and gums up the mower’s carburetor. To remove the fuel, first add stabilizer to the tank and start the mower’s engine. This forces it to distribute the stabilizer throughout the system. 
 
Next, turn your mower off and wait for it to cool. When you’re certain it is cool enough, siphon the remaining gas into a clean can. Start your lawn mower and allow it to run until it stops from the lack of fuel. Repeat this process until the fuel lines are empty and the mower no longer starts. Before proceeding further, disconnect the spark plugs to avoid serious injury. You’re now ready to complete these last steps: 
 

 

The Lawnsmith is Here for You All Four Seasons
Some landscape and lawn care companies shut down for the winter, but not The Lawnsmith. Give us a call if you still need help with fall clean-up or if you’re thinking ahead to snow removal or roof raking services this winter.

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