Thorny Locusts... how would you remove?

[Richard]

Right smack dab in the middle of the "entrance" between two fields is a small patch of 15/20 foot high thorny locusts. Thorns are five feet in length...(or so they seem) but probably 2-3 inches.

Branches are out from the trunk so you can't really get "close" to the tree without going through/under the branches.

I used hoe to dig some on the back side of farm (what I think were same trees) and was amazed to see, when I pulled them up, it seemed like they had a root system that went on for literally 20-30 feet. It was like under ground tenticles that were rooting out to create new problems. Yanked all those and burnt them. Keep field cut so all that has died.

I did similar to THESE trees but I worked out of state for three years and the farmer who leased the place let them come back.

So... would you take chain saw & cut them down, carry to burn pile and just keep mowing over stumps (flush cut with ground) or would you go extra distance and use hoe to dig them up, create larger hole and fill it in?

There's no way I see doing any of this and not having some of the thorns falling here & there. So, how long might the thorns expect to remain intact before they rot away enough to not be a tire issue?

I know the tree itself can last for years & years, as a fence post... but does that also apply to the thorns??? (I'm thinking surely not?)

 

[RalphVa]

After cutting, apply some full strength glyphosate (Roundup's active ingredient) to the stump with a brush or Buckthorn dauber (online).

Ralph

 

[fried1765]

After cutting, apply some full strength glyphosate (Roundup's active ingredient) to the stump with a brush or Buckthorn dauber (online).

Ralph

Yup....that kills 'em.....forever!

 

[Richard]

Nice, don't have to dig/fix a hole!!

 

[Hay Dude]

Right smack dab in the middle of the "entrance" between two fields is a small patch of 15/20 foot high thorny locusts. Thorns are five feet in length...(or so they seem) but probably 2-3 inches.

Branches are out from the trunk so you can't really get "close" to the tree without going through/under the branches.

I used hoe to dig some on the back side of farm (what I think were same trees) and was amazed to see, when I pulled them up, it seemed like they had a root system that went on for literally 20-30 feet. It was like under ground tenticles that were rooting out to create new problems. Yanked all those and burnt them. Keep field cut so all that has died.

I did similar to THESE trees but I worked out of state for three years and the farmer who leased the place let them come back.

So... would you take chain saw & cut them down, carry to burn pile and just keep mowing over stumps (flush cut with ground) or would you go extra distance and use hoe to dig them up, create larger hole and fill it in?

There's no way I see doing any of this and not having some of the thorns falling here & there. So, how long might the thorns expect to remain intact before they rot away enough to not be a tire issue?

I know the tree itself can last for years & years, as a fence post... but does that also apply to the thorns??? (I'm thinking surely not?)

Have a customer with that junk. Calls me every 3 years and asks me to cut it down. Its like 15 tall and 2-3 inches at the base. I back my 15 bush hog into it and knock it over then grind it up good. Havent gotten a flat tire yet and consider myself lucky.
He wont use glyphosate. Says the stuff kills people.

 

[3gunr]

Unfortunantly i have hundreds of honey locust on my farm .I am now cutting them and spraying with tordon. Problem is i dont have a grapple so moving them is a problem. I f you push them they leave the thorns all over hoping to get a grapple this yr.

 

[pmsmechanic]

What about putting some straw bales around the trees and burning them even before you cut them down?

 

[jmc]

I popped out a few hundred of them after realizing they send up suckers if you leave a stump. IIRC, they still sent up suckers just from the long roots remaining after removing the stump, but not as many. Bushhog the area when the ground is firm so the tire tread keeps the tire carcass off the ground.

 

[the old grind]

Black Locust thorns are predominant on medium-sized branches. I have a patch of them that only now I can drive through/between w/o getting my hat pulled off. Once they're about post-size/diameter (soon) I plan to cut/grapple/clear the area and harvest. (deer bed there) Locust is a top firewood, up there with apple & mulberry for BTU/volume. Not fun to process for that, though.

I'm all for painting stumps after cutting. I no longer dig them out and I grind many stumps as well as 'paint' 'em.. For that I use a ~ 50/50 mix of 42% glypho and 2-4-D (Amine 400, etc) which gives it a color and odor nothing like unadulterated glypho. A customer/client doesn't need to know if 2-4-D has been spiked. Oh, and the whole cut needn't be painted, just the outer 1-2". Re-treat if you see suckers sprouting from the exposed cambium.

 

[grnspot110]

Tordon RTU on the stumps!

 

[fried1765]

Have a customer with that junk. Calls me every 3 years and asks me to cut it down. Its like 15 tall and 2-3 inches at the base. I back my 15 bush hog into it and knock it over then grind it up good. Havent gotten a flat tire yet and consider myself lucky.
He wont use glyphosate. Says the stuff kills people.

My neighbor cuts that stuff for me once each year (Sept.)
He has a magnificent CAT tracked skidsteer with a 10'(?) mower head.
Once each year keeps it looking managed.
Every 3 years would be ugly!

$600 each year, for about 4-1/2 acres.
It is actually his view across my property.

 

[jaxs]

After removing existing trees by what ever method you choose,annually spraying area with 2-4-D in late spring/early summer is effective for resprouts. Might take 2 years but that will kill remaining roots to prevent sprouting. Cows will eat new sprouts and goats will eat any leaves and twigs they can reach regardless of age.

 

[fried1765]

After removing existing trees by what ever method you choose,annually spraying area with 2-4-D in late spring/early summer is effective for resprouts. Might take 2 years but that will kill remaining roots to prevent sprouting. Cows will eat new sprouts and goats will eat any leaves and twigs they can reach regardless of age.

No need to spray anytime, if you paint the fresh cut stumps with straight Glyphosate.
There will be no sprouts from that root system!

 

[i7win7]

Pull them & fill holes.

 

[ponytug]

IIRC, the thorns are pretty rot resistant.

Locusts are pretty good at having extended root systems, so ripping them out is a great way to get at the roots. So, yes, put in me the go the extra mile category. Locusts make great rot resistant fence posts though.

I haven't had great success with glyphosate on tree roots, but I have never tried it on locust.

Any one else eat the blossoms? In the spring we used to pick the blossom clusters to make fritters with.

All the best,

Peter

 

[rangerfredbob]

When pulling trees I usually use a choker chain, if you can't get to the stump use a long chain and hook it to itself with a slip loop at the end or a slip hook then just drive off and let it choke down on the stump... that would be less messy than digging them out, then flatten and mow the stubble, if you keep up with it that should work, I think not letting them get leaves is key.

 

[Hay Dude]

A mini ex with a tree puller or a mulcher head would be nice
Mini ex is such a sensible tool and can do so many things.

 

[i7win7]

pulling up is better than pulling over - build a lever

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Back in the olden days when I was in college, Sharn Jean and I visited a small park near the college, North of OKC. In one area, there was a long, straight hedgerow of Honey Locust trees that formed an impenetrable barrier. Believe me, it was very formidable, and scary to even think about trying to get through. It was too straight and cultivated looking not to have been deliberately planted; I have no idea what they were trying to protect, but my guess is that it had been planted probably during the territorial days. I think it's gone now, but it was so impressive I've never forgotten it.

 

[rekees4300]

After cutting, apply some full strength glyphosate (Roundup's active ingredient) to the stump with a brush or Buckthorn dauber (online).

Ralph

Ditto ... also be sure to wear good eye protection when cutting, moving, etc. Last thing you want is one of those needle sharp thorns in your eye! Also wear heavy duty gloves & boots to protect your hands & feet. BTW the thorns are also capable of flattening tractor tires (been there done that) so avoid running over them.