Locust Tree Thorns
I have a locust tree that I need to take down soon before it falls on my house. Taking it down isn't a problem but I probably will just let it lay in the yard until spring. I'm worn out from cutting, splitting, and stacking the last 6 weeks. My question is about the thorns. How long does it take before they start to disintegrate? Will I have to pick them all up by hand next April? They are great for fence posts but also are a pain.
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Never.
They turn brown but never turn to dust.
I have an old cattle pasture full of the blasted things.
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Eons.
Any air inflated tire will easily pick them up for you.9 -
That's not what I wanted to hear guys but thanks for the info. 0 -
Rake them up. They make great finishing nails. 0 -
Shave off what you can and try to keep track of the rest, good luck!! 0 -
Locust thorns are bad but the Hawthorn Tree has 16 penny spikes that will ruin your day along with Osage Orange tree spikes. You have the most excellent firewood available, it will scare you from its heat output but those thorns are a PIA for sure. 0 -
"My question is about the thorns. How long does it take before they start to disintegrate? "
I concur with the estimate of "never".3 -
I have found it best to cut it down green and drag it to a place to work it up out of the normal traveling paths. if its good and green the thorns will stay attached. work it up when you can. then rake up what you can. then hopefully you wont need to be traveling thru where you worked it up. at least thats how we do them. good luck 3 -
Also, put stump killer on it.
If not, you’ll have a hundred trees growing.
Ask me how I know 😖
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I used to cut a lot of locust fence posts. On day one of cutting fence posts I introduced myself to a locust thorn. Really got myself good, I couldn't hardly use my hand for over a week. Never got more than a scratch after that. If you are very careful those thorns can be avoided, I know because I did it. Pain is a very, very good teacher!! As I said, I really got myself good day one so I was well taught on the thorn topic!! 
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Are yours the Honey Locust type thorns or the Black Locust type thorns?
I had one of the long Honey Locust thorns penetrate my shoe sole and bury into the bottom of my foot few years ago. Had to walk on my heel until I got to vec, drive to house, get some pliers and carefully try to remove the thorn from the shoe sole before I could get the shoe off. Pain is similar to being finned by a catfish. Makes you have respect and a heads up notice when you see Honey Locust trees and even their small sprouts with thorns.
Here is links to view each:
Like the one guy says, cut it down green then drag it away before further cutting. If you don't carefully drag it off you will be more worn out (as you say) from flat tires and thorns in animals feet.
Them thorns do not seem to ever rot., they turn into petrified thorns and get sharper by age and are attracted to any high dollar vec tire that comes around creating a very slow leak and the tire cannot even be repaired. You will spend more money trying to find the leak than a new tire costs. Usually only has slow leaks as the tire is rolling. Some Locust if cut at correct time of year (by the almanac) never rot and old timers preferred them (Black Locust with the smaller thorns) as fence posts due to getting hard as a rock and not rotting as they dried. Last almost as long as a steel T post in the ground.
Whichever type of Locust, if you do not apply a herbicide stump killer to the stump immediately after it's cut lots more will sprig from the roots come spring.
Cannot imagine why anyone would have a locust tree in their yard as a desirable tree.
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I just remembered that I swapped 350 split locust posts even up for a real good black Perchon draft yearling colt!! One of many, many things my first wife ended up with.
On this topic why does a woman need all my Snap-on tools and my 140 lb. Trenton anvil?? I should have had a better lawyer!!!!!0 -
dreher said:I just remembered that I swapped 350 split locust posts even up for a real good black Perchon draft yearling colt!! One of many, many things my first wife ended up with.
On this topic why does a woman need all my Snap-on tools and my 140 lb. Trenton anvil?? I should have had a better lawyer!!!!!
Her lawyer needed that stuff!
A guy that has been married to the same woman for several years will reach a point where he needs to be nice to his wife because of his hunting and fishin stuff. (and tools)
Think of your huntin and fishin stuff before you start acting mean to your wiffee.
The woman will want your good stuff that she knows you cherish more than her.0 -
i cut and installed MANY black locust fence posts, most were still solid after 40 years in swampy ground !like the other post mentioned, locust gives awesome heat as well, and made many tool handles from it as it does wear like steel
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I have seen them start growing after putting them in the ground as fence posts
I have also seen sparks when cutting them with chainsaw
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Black and yellow locust might be the same but in this neck of the woods it is yellow locust. Tough as nails, eats chain saw chains, burns very hot, my choice above any hardwood for heat, and fairly rot resistant.
We messed with a circle sawmill some and Dad would use locust for the saw guides.
Fence row or grown up fields locust is hard to split and won't resist rot very long.
Starting to be a shortage around here, disease of some sort hitting it.
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Very hard wood, those things last long as has been noted. Get out the branches then rake. 0
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