Thorny Locust tree

Richard · Aug 23, 2001

Have a couple and father in law wants them out. Says he would "hire" me (and Brutus) to take them down. I said instead of paying me anything, he could pay for my flat tires! /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Any secret to taking them out?
any merit in cutting them where they stand and simply burn them? (they are in middle of field) That way we don't drag thorns all over the farm.

Any way to simply torch the tree while standing so we don't even have to cut it down? (I can't see any myself..other than a gas bath /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif)

Richard

TerryinMD · Aug 23, 2001

Sounds like a job for Mr. Chainsaw and a funeral pyre!!

No other recourse?? We had one on our property and it died. It was on a rock outcroping and did not interfere with anything.

WoodDawg · Aug 26, 2001

Cut the trees now before they spread. I bought some land that was neglected for 10+ years, and those trees had spread everywhere. The small ones I just bush hogged. The 5 - 10 inch ones I cut with a chainsaw and pushed them into a burn pile with the loader. I have cut well over 200 trees so far, and have many more to go. So far no flats, I got the R4 tires just for that reason. I was hoping they would be more puncture resistant than the R1's, and so far they have been.
Good Luck!

Hillbilly · Aug 26, 2001

I have several locust trees on my land,a lot of them are large in size.They are excellent for fence posts and make (in my opinion) the best firewood you can get.They do spread a lot as ,cattle love to eat the leaves.No other tree can lay on the ground for years like a locust and not rot,I love to cut them for wood,you do not have near as many branches to deal with,it burns clean,long and hot. The bark makes excellent kindling.

Jag · Aug 26, 2001

Richard, let us know how it works out... There is no way I would want to work my tractor around my "thorn" locust. I have had at least 2 flats this past year, with me tring to stay away from them... some of those thorns are at least 9 niches long. I must have 20 or so good size trees that I will push down this winter and use for fence posts, fire wood and burn the rest. I have heard that they can be very hard to get rid of... Keep us updated.

Hillbilly · Aug 26, 2001

I am curious about the type of locust trees you have, do you know what species of locust they are,I have never seen a 9" thorn on a tree of any kind(not to say that there isnt any)we have what we call "crab apple trees" and they might have a 3" thorn at best.
The locust trees we have when the trees are small in size they have a thorn about 1" long,then as the tree grows,instead of thorns they have what I would call big briars.

Wal · Aug 27, 2001

Hillbilly,

You sure those crab apple trees aren't washington hawthorns?

Hillbilly · Aug 27, 2001

Well,
I do not know,I never heard of "Washington Hawthorns" the apples on them usally do not getting any bigger than a ping pong ball,the trees may get as high as 15' and are kind of a crooked little tree,with lots of thorns protruding.

TerryinMD · Aug 27, 2001

If these locusts have very long thorns say better than three inches and in clumps, you have a Honey Locust. As far as I know, they do not reproduce like the normal locust tree.

Hope this helps.

Jag · Aug 27, 2001

HB, TinMD, yes these are referred to as Honey Locust. Also heard Black Locust. Me, I am not sure what to call them but #@!!#**Shi#,#sonobitch@!!#**....... And anything anyone can tell me how to get them gone would be much appreciated... HB if you would like to see some thorns I will be glad to sent you some, as I have a lot more than I would like...