I need to know how to kill the trees once i cut the down without any toxic sprays if possible we have just moved on to the land and have sevral 100 to get rid of they have big thorns and many bean pods I dont want to spray if i can aviod it thankyou

-- patrick hemsley (plem99@aol.com), February 05, 2000

Answers

We could be neighbors with all the locust trees. Because of the thorns that will be spread by moving the trunks, waiting to stick through some critter's foot or your boot, try to burn the trees where you cut them to help kill the roots. It's frustrating not to be able to use it for firewood or fence posts because of the thorns but safer. Also, plain salt sprinkled about 1/4" thick on stumps in spring when the sap starts to move will help kill the roots and wild things will enjoy the salt. If you still get growth from the roots, buy goats to constantly eat new growth from the seeds or from the roots. Eventually, the root energy reserve will be depleted and they will die then, by golly. Goats grazed this way will also kill multiflora rose, poison ivy and other noxious weeds. We even had some wild cherry trees the goats took out. Yes, wild cherry is toxic but with goats being nibblers, it's a matter of concentration of the toxic material to total ration. They got into tomato plants once, destroyed a whole planting, and no one even burped. I AM NOT RECOMMENDING TOMATO PLANTS, WILD CHERRY TREES AND OTHER STUFF AS FEEDSTUFFS. It's just that goats are goats and they eat things that aren't the best for them sometime.

-- Marilyn Dickerson (rainbow@ktis.net), February 05, 2000.

If you girdle them before the sap runs, you should be able to come back when they have died back and cut them for fenceposts. Just peel off the bark before you move them, and burn the bark and thorns over the stumps. Goats are a great idea to keep sprouts from reestablishing.

-- Connie Christoffer (litlgaea@cs.com), February 07, 2000.

Depending on the size of the tree O.K. Gridle the tree. When dead, Pile a large brush pile of cedar if you have them and set a fire when conditions are right. Large black locust make good post and fire wood. Wear study thick sole shoe or boots for sure. If trees or 16 to 26 inches in dia. cut them for saw logs. A portabe bandsaw sawyer can give you enough lumber to really build great sheds, chicken houses and barns. The small ones just cut them, about 3 or 4 feet high, just enough to push the top over or down. This will give browse to deer, goats, or what ever. after the're dead, drag them into a private area of the property and make a large, 15 feet in dia., brush pile. God's creatures will love you for it. Always try to put something back. As far as the terrible thorns when the trees are gone, so go the thorns. As my wise and thoughtful mother told me. You would't have flats in town if you would stay out of the alleys. I sell Locust and Osage Orange post for $6 to $12 each. And the firewood limb & split mix for $100.00 a cord. Delivery is extra. Walk softly amonst those trees. JR Trees and brush can save and make money or you can spend a bunch for stuff.

-- James R. Jones (jr3star@earthlink.net), February 23, 2000.