It can invade woodlands, savannas, and prairies. There are no current legal restrictions on the sale or propagation of these plants. As with all management, control efforts must balance improvement of the biotic community with damage caused by the management. It is always best to take the least damaging approach that will affect the desired control of an exotic. The following are effective control measures for common buckthorn.
Fire is sometime effective in controlling buckthorn.
Regular prescribed fire will kill seedlings and stems of this species in fire-adapted upland sites, although resprouting may occur. Some control usually will be evident after the first burn. However, for complete control in established stands of buckthorn, burning yearly or every other year may be required for 5-6 years or more. Early spring burns, late April to early May, capitalize on the fact that buckthorn leafs out earlier than most native shrubs. Burning shortly after leaf out may reduce resprouting, since root reserves will be low at that time.