Killing/removing Locust saplings

[turnkey4099]

As others have pointed out, B. Locust has a bad 'copsing' habit (sprouts from roots). I chased those sprouts for years from one growing in my backyard. When I foui4nd one coming up through a crack in my back porch concrete floor 20 ft away from the the tree I decided the tree had had its day. Cut it down and made firewood out of it. Took me 3 or 4 years of chasing _every_ little sprout with a spray bottle of RoundUp. Used to patrol every 3 or 4 days.

That would work for you but you gotta get them all. When it comes to those 'weed trees' getting rid of them is not easy nor quick.

I love the things but not in a yard! Here the past 10 years the "Locust Borer" is killing them off. I have harvested in the range of 50 cords over the past 4 years and am out there looking for more - it is one of the top 4 species for firewood and posts.

Harry K

 

[whistlepig]

It has been my experience that Black Locust is forever. I have mowed them, sprayed them, sawed them, snipped them, and dug them for thirty years. The only relief I got was when we moved away from them 4 years ago. I would never buy another place if I saw a Black Locust tree on it.

 

[Wooddust]

Locusts are not difficult to control. Most failures are result of wrong herbicide or wrong timing.

The Timing I'll give is based on Missouri latitude. Further south you could go earlier, north a bit later.

Most people believe the old line of "spray brush when its fully leafed out". For Locust that could be April. That will fail every time. For best control, wait till the end of June, early July.

Best control will come from products containing picloram or aminopyralid. Trade names would be Tordon, Grazon, Milestone, Forefront, Grazon Next.

Foliar application would be best at these rates: Grazon, Forefront or Grazon Next at 2% diluted in water.

Locusts are easy to control with a basal bark application of Garlon 4 or Remedy at 25% diluted in Diesel...this can be applied anytime of the year.

Cutting a black locust and attempting to treat a stump will generally lead to massive emergence of new sprouts. Its far better to basal treat or foliar treat and wait till the next season to cut the tree down.

 

[SandburRanch]

VERY good point.. As of today (could be different within a week based on how fast they grow LOL) there are <20 that are big enough to even try to pull out..

brian

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Cut the quarter sized off with loppers about a foot tall and if they are close enough together pull them out 5 at a time with the tractor and a chain.

 

[whistlepig]

Locusts are not difficult to control. Most failures are result of wrong herbicide or wrong timing.

The Timing I'll give is based on Missouri latitude. Further south you could go earlier, north a bit later.

Most people believe the old line of "spray brush when its fully leafed out". For Locust that could be April. That will fail every time. For best control, wait till the end of June, early July.

Best control will come from products containing picloram or aminopyralid. Trade names would be Tordon, Grazon, Milestone, Forefront, Grazon Next.

Foliar application would be best at these rates: Grazon, Forefront or Grazon Next at 2% diluted in water.

Locusts are easy to control with a basal bark application of Garlon 4 or Remedy at 25% diluted in Diesel...this can be applied anytime of the year.

Cutting a black locust and attempting to treat a stump will generally lead to massive emergence of new sprouts. Its far better to basal treat or foliar treat and wait till the next season to cut the tree down.

Before you spend a fortune on chemicals to do battle with Black Locust give a small patch of Black Locust a try with the chemical of your choice. At the proper time of year and with the sapling properly leaved of course. And for every one you kill ten more will sprout up.

 

[Whitnel]

I have a bunch of these thorn trees on my place. New ones growing from the roots is maddening. So started spraying them with brush killer. Most are all dead and brown now. Will killing the trees, kill the roots or will they keep sprouting. I hoped it would kill the roots as well.

 

[Little_Grizzly]

Too funny... I've got a bunch of hill to hold after cutting some new roads on my property (California hills). I'm planting black and honey locust everywhere I can. Fast growing, drought resistant, good in rocky soil, etc. I pray to god it spreads! I wouldn't mind at all if I ended up with the whole 640 acres covered in it. Beats that darn chamise and buck brush by a long shot. Great firewood too!

 

[whistlepig]

I have a bunch of these thorn trees on my place. New ones growing from the roots is maddening. So started spraying them with brush killer. Most are all dead and brown now. Will killing the trees, kill the roots or will they keep sprouting. I hoped it would kill the roots as well.

They will keep sprouting. On the young saplings I cut them before the thorns hardened. About 18" high or less. When the thorns harden they are death on tractor and mower tires.

 

[Whitnel]

They will keep sprouting. On the young saplings I cut them before the thorns hardened. About 18" high or less. When the thorns harden they are death on tractor and mower tires.

Sounds like I am in for a long battle. But I hate these trees so guess we will see who wins. Yes, I have seen several of the smaller ones in my tires before, no flats to date, knock on wood. But I am pretty carefull not to run over them.

 

[Wooddust]

Before you spend a fortune on chemicals to do battle with Black Locust give a small patch of Black Locust a try with the chemical of your choice. At the proper time of year and with the sapling properly leaved of course. And for every one you kill ten more will sprout up.

I do this for a living and have over 25 years of experience. Perhaps Im just very lucky and your experience is the norm.