Eradicating invasive weeds - Ask Extension
I would like to know if I need to do an additional step besides having someone come and bulldoze my backyard and spraying wildflowers seeds down to ge...
Knowledgebase
Eradicating invasive weeds #913954
Asked August 13, 2025, 9:13 PM EDT
I would like to know if I need to do an additional step besides having someone come and bulldoze my backyard and spraying wildflowers seeds down to get rid of the invasive weeds such as burdock, garlic mustard and buckthorn. Do I need to spray a herbicide to kill existing seeds and plants?
Dakota County Minnesota
Expert Response
How to clean up a backyard dominated by woody and herbaceous weeds depends upon the size of the area and the physical and mechanical resources available to do the job.
It also depends upon the manager's objectives and timetable. Using power and chemical tools speeds the process and may be necessary in some cases, but given patience and persistence, a lot can be accomplished by hand.
We don't know enough about the backyard to make specific recommendations. However, most gardeners can control garlic mustard, burdock, and buckthorn without resorting to chemicals or bulldozers.
Garlic mustard
https://extension.umn.edu/identify-invasive-species/garlic-mustard
Burdock
According to experts at Washington State University, "small infestations can be pulled or hand dug, although removal may be difficult because of the plant’s large, tough taproot. Established plants will resprout if the whole root is not removed. Any existing seed heads should be bagged and removed from the site. Plowing or disking will kill small plants. Mowing or other cutting methods used prior to seed set will prevent seed formation."
Burdock is biennial, so it's best to target first year plants when they are small and second year plants before they set seed.
Buckthorn
https://northerngardener.org/natural-buckthorn-control/
General weed control recommendations:
https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/lawn-weeds
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Invasives/control
It also depends upon the manager's objectives and timetable. Using power and chemical tools speeds the process and may be necessary in some cases, but given patience and persistence, a lot can be accomplished by hand.
We don't know enough about the backyard to make specific recommendations. However, most gardeners can control garlic mustard, burdock, and buckthorn without resorting to chemicals or bulldozers.
Garlic mustard
https://extension.umn.edu/identify-invasive-species/garlic-mustard
Burdock
According to experts at Washington State University, "small infestations can be pulled or hand dug, although removal may be difficult because of the plant’s large, tough taproot. Established plants will resprout if the whole root is not removed. Any existing seed heads should be bagged and removed from the site. Plowing or disking will kill small plants. Mowing or other cutting methods used prior to seed set will prevent seed formation."
Burdock is biennial, so it's best to target first year plants when they are small and second year plants before they set seed.
Buckthorn
https://northerngardener.org/natural-buckthorn-control/
General weed control recommendations:
https://extension.umn.edu/lawn-care/lawn-weeds
https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/Invasives/control
Thank you for the information.
My backyard area is about 1/4 of an acre and because I left it go natural I have all these weeds. I have tried hand pulling but it’s too much. I am paying to have it cleaned out by a bobcat but I know the roots of these invasive plants will remain along with seeds. So is it wise to spray the area with wild flower mix after I have the area scraped? Won’t weeds keep coming back? That’s what I need advice on how to handle this and not waste time and money on something that won’t o.
Yes, spraying a wildflower mix after the soil has been exposed won't suppress the roots of woody and herbaceous perennials that have dominated the area.
More than one herbicide application before anything is planted will probably be needed to accomplish that.
How to proceed can best be determined by obtaining and following the recommendations of a landscape restoration specialist, preferably one who will provide services onsite.
To find the help you need, enter "landscape professionals twin cities area" or something similar in your browser.
Or use this Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association tool to find someone:
https://www.mnla.biz/search/custom.asp?id=2352
More than one herbicide application before anything is planted will probably be needed to accomplish that.
How to proceed can best be determined by obtaining and following the recommendations of a landscape restoration specialist, preferably one who will provide services onsite.
To find the help you need, enter "landscape professionals twin cities area" or something similar in your browser.
Or use this Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association tool to find someone:
https://www.mnla.biz/search/custom.asp?id=2352
