Locust Trees are Nasty

[bigtiller]

I am going to try rockfish dave's method. The tree is 3' outside my fence line and about 20' tall. I doubt its owner has ever seen it and the hired hand just farms around it. I cut the limbs on my side with a pole saw and throw them over the fence. If I didn't, I would have to farm around it and in a few years my pole saw will be too short.

 

[MossRoad]

If you're going to kill a neighbor's tree without their permission, you're opening yourself up to a world of endless possibilities. There's plenty of horror stories here on TBN about neighbor disputes. Just sayin'.

 

[grnspot110]

OK, I'll give it a try. I've got the same problem most others have - when I cut 1, 4 come back up. Do you put it on stumps or girdle the bark? Any particular time of year?

I squirt it around the new growth strip around the top edge of a stump or into a chainsaw kerf of a tree left standing.

 

[bigtiller]

If you're going to kill a neighbor's tree without their permission, you're opening yourself up to a world of endless possibilities. There's plenty of horror stories here on TBN about neighbor disputes. Just sayin'.

You are absolutely right, but I doubt anyone in their right mind would complain about a dead thorn tree in a fence line in a corn field. And I may take that chance someday,,,, or not. Heck, I may even call him and ask him to have his man do it.

 

[mfridenmaker]

The Dow Agro Sciences site did not list locust tress under woody plants controlled by Tordon.

I'm not an expert at this topic, I'm still learning the best method for controlling Black and Honey Locusts on or property but here are some observations for what it's worth.

I have had mixed results with Tordon RTU on both types of Locusts. I have tried both the hack and squirt method as well as the frilling and squirting method with disappointing results. Almost no full kills on mature trees and maybe a 50% kill rate on trees up to 5" in diameter. I admit I have not used Tordon RTU on freshly cut stumps but I will this winter as I continue to try to get my locust population under control. Tordon RTU can also migrate through roots and soil and is known to damage nearby trees you are not targeting. I have used Tordon RTU on outbreaks of Black Locust where large areas of suckering lead to many saplings in an area that was bush hogged which is without a doubt the worst thing you can do to locust saplings. Bush hog 100 saplings in an outbreak and they come back next season as 200 saplings. I cut the saplings with loppers and applied Tordon RTU to the cut stump and have seen decent results. These were my first methods in dealing with Locusts and I have since abandoned Tordon RTU for Triclopyr. Locusts are not listed on Tordon RTU's label and I believe for good reason, it is simply not as effective at controlling Locusts.

I have had good results with Triclopyr mixed with diesel for killing Locust saplings. I use a lopper or a Stihl brushcutter and squirt the freshly cut sapling stump with a 30% Triclopyr 70% diesel mix. I used a brushcutter and Triclopyr mix on a 2 acre breakout of Black Locusts and had tremendous results. After one pass at cutting and spraying all Locusts, I had approximately a 90% kill rate. I will make another pass this winter and should have the entire outbreak wiped out. I plan on using a Triclopyr diesel mix for hack and squirt applications as well as cut stump treatment and I expect much better, consistent results. Locusts are listed as a controlled species on Triclopyr's label and I have been pitching this by the gallon for about $50 online which, when mixed, results in almost 4 gallons of locust killing potion.

Both Tordon RTU as well as Triclopyr are systemic and travel through the tree and roots for a full kill and help to prevent resprouting and suckering. I'm just not convinced Tordon RTU is best suited for Locust control. If anybody has any other suggestions, I'm all ears.

Mark

 

[Rockfish Dave]

I'm writing this down and trying it next spring.

Remedy, Crossbow or Tordon,,,,,, which is more potent? Which can I buy by the quart? I could never use a 2.5 gallon jug.

Remedy then Crossbow.

This is both my personal experience and that of my neighbors. Use what has proven to work and you will not be disappointed. Be sure to do it on a calm day so you do not kill any non target vegetation. Also the warmer the temperature the better.

 

[mfridenmaker]

Remedy then Crossbow. This is both my personal experience and that of my neighbors. Use what has proven to work and you will not be disappointed. Be sure to do it on a calm day so you do not kill any non target vegetation. Also the warmer the temperature the better.

Remedy is a brand name herbicide containing approximately 60% Triclopyr. You can find more economical generic products containing the same 60% solution if you search the Internet, but Remedy is a good name brand product.

Crossbow is a 2,4,D and Triclopyr mix herbicide containing approximately 34% 2,4,D and 16% Triclopyr. 2,4,D is not effective against Locusts but the Triclopyr is. Since you are only getting Triclopyr in a 16% solution, you have to use more if it to kill which ends up costing more money. It works, it's just not the best product for the application, IMHO.

Locusts are listed on both of these products' labels and, like you said, "use what has proven to work and you will not be disappointed".

Did I mention I hate locusts!

 

[mfridenmaker]

I had the bottom portion cleared with a dozer and didn't have access to a heavy disk before planting my native grasses. Long story short I was not able to cut the roots into small enough pieces to kill them and now I have a solid acre of locust trees sprouting.

Rockfish, I had a similar situation to yours in my pasture. As a solution, I used a brushcutter then immediately sprayed the cut saplings with a Generic Triclopyr product (you mentioned you like Remedy which is a very good name brand product) mixed with diesel at a 30% to 70% mixture. I had great results with over a 90% kill rate after my first pass. I experienced very little killed grass because I was able to target the cut stump precisely with a backpack sprayer instead of using the quicker methods of basal spraying or foliar spraying. It took some time to get through my 2 acres of outbreak but it was time well spent. One more pass and I should be rid of this outbreak. Good luck and I hope you experience very little damage of your native grasses.

 

[Osu98]

Tordon RTU is watered down junk. Tordon or picloram is restricted use so they water it down to sell in an RTU version.

To kill almost any tree except cedars 3 parts diesel with 1 part remedy. The stuff has really come down in price over the last several years. You don't need to cut the tree first if you don't want to. Just mix in a pump up sprayer and spray it on the base then say goodbye to the tree.

 

[MossRoad]

You are absolutely right, but I doubt anyone in their right mind would complain about a dead thorn tree in a fence line in a corn field. And I may take that chance someday,,,, or not. Heck, I may even call him and ask him to have his man do it.

Yeah, you'd think so... but when some old woman comes at you screaming about taking out the special tree where fluffy was buried back in '42, well, hahaahahaa that kind of stuff just can't be predicted. :laughing: