Locust Thorns - Threat to tires?

[LarryBud]

I'm cleaning up some meadows which are full of Honey Locust. The thorns on the Locust range from small needle like on the knee high versions to 4-6" daggers on the full size tees.

My plan is to cut, treat and stack the locust on the meadow edge. Then, come through with a 6" rental chipper to finish the job. I'll be blowing the chop back into the meadow but assume it will be harmless after going through the chipper.

My question is how worried do I need to be about a lost thorn or two? I'm clearing out all I can but its not unreasonale that some small pieces get burried in the grass. I'll be mowing after I cut and clean. Any thoughts or experience with these nasty trees?

Thanks,

 

[Bmyers]

Yes, they will go through tires and shoes.

I hate dealing with them. I had to remove one from dad's foot that he stepped on. I bought him puncture resistant shoe inserts after that. We had one front tractor tire that we had to repair the tube due to a thorn going through the tire into the tube.

Do we worry about them? No, but they can come back and bite you at the least opportune time (isn't that how everything works).

One final note, if your nephew is cutting a locust tree down, don't turn to talk to your dad while he is cutting and then turn back when the nephew yells. It only took 14 bandages to patch up all the puncture wounds I had and I was very lucky (lost a good work shirt), it could of been much worse. Just because it was a small tree, I got lazy and didn't take it as serious (you only make that mistake once). Those thorns will get you, big or small tree.

 

[85Hokie]

THose @#$%$@#$$@#$@# things will make you invent NEW @#$@#$@#$@ cuss words!!!!!!!!

I lost a tire on my BX - hit one on the sidewall ..... limped it back to trailer.....
got tube in it ........... and guess what - yeah, you guessed it ......... punctured that tire and tube again on the very next trip.


I would burn them - drag them - dig them up with the FEL - or worst idea - go where they are NOT.

I will tell you this - those little "bushes" of locus's are no match for a piranha tooth bar!!!

 

[D2Cat]

Larry, I have a friend who had 80 acres with Locust and Osage Orange. What he finally did was (in the Fall) get a pump up sprayer and fill with diesel. Get on the down wind side and spray as high up into the tree as possible, then spray the entire trunk. Wait a few minutes and light it! That would take care of a large portion of the thorns.

He also would cut the trees down and shave the thorns with a machete, rake those and burn them.

To keep your tires aired up it's best to find the most expensive tire sealant (because they tend to be the best) and use as recommended. Once you get thorns in tires you will always get flats even with a new tube because when to go over something solid like a stone it pushed a thorn (that was in the tire but not causing a leak) further in and puncturing the tube.

 

[LarryBud]

You all are not making feel comfortable about the challenge ahead. I have to deal with them somehow. They will only get worse.

 

[Bmyers]

You all are not making feel comfortable about the challenge ahead. I have to deal with them somehow. They will only get worse.

You are correct, but you have the knowledge now to know some of the hazards you are up against and make preparations accordingly. Realizing, that we have all dealt with them and they are pain, but they can be dealt with.

 

[SDT]

You all are not making feel comfortable about the challenge ahead. I have to deal with them somehow. They will only get worse.

I have many years of experience dealing with honey locust trees.

If you have more than can be removed the hard way with chainsaw, back, and burn piles (as I do), hire someone with a large skid steer and Fecon to remove them.

After the Fecon has left, set your rotary cutter as low as possible and mow the areas where the trees were while travelling in reverse.

Yes, you may still get flats but far fewer.

SDT

 

[D2Cat]

Any locust or hedge you cut off needs to be sprayed right away with Tordon & diesel mixture to prevent re growth. Or you can buy RTU (which is Ready To Use) Tordon.

 

[LarryBud]

Thanks All,

I’ve been using Tordon RTU so far. It seems to be going well and fairly cost effecting.

I can rent a Chipper for $250 a day. It seems easier and safer to line up all my cuttings close to where the drop and then bring the chipper to them vs dragging them to a series of burn piles where I have a chance at dragging the thorns all over my property. Also, I don’t have a good way to move them. I have a FEL but no grappler. It will be mostly hand labor unless I’m missing a good idea?

 

[LarryBud]

[QUOTE="SDT, post:

After the Fecon has left, set your rotary cutter as low as possible and mow the areas where the trees were while travelling

[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the good tip. I’ ll do it. I thought I read that if you pull a Honey Locust, the remaining root system will come back with a vengeance the next year? I’ve been cutting and treating thus far. Slow but I’m hoping effective.

 

[SDT]

Thanks All,

I’ve been using Tordon RTU so far. It seems to be going well and fairly cost effecting.

I can rent a Chipper for $250 a day. It seems easier and safer to line up all my cuttings close to where the drop and then bring the chipper to them vs dragging them to a series of burn piles where I have a chance at dragging the thorns all over my property. Also, I don’t have a good way to move them. I have a FEL but no grappler. It will be mostly hand labor unless I’m missing a good idea?

I usually build burn piles near where the trees fall. Sometimes I drag trees and parts of trees with a chain to avoid the time necessary to install the grapple which I find of limited usefulness. I NEVER use the grapple for honey locust trees. I always mow areas where honey locust trees have been cleaned up, moved, or burned with the mower set as close as possible and traveling in reverse. Usually do so more than once before reverting to forward motion mowing.

If you plan to regularly mow the areas where trees are removed there is little need of Tordon. Regular mowing will eventually kill the roots but it may take several years depending upon how frequently the area is mowed. Black locusts can continue to sprout for 5 years or more unless the area is mowed 3 or more times each year.

SDT

 

[Oliver]

......To keep your tires aired up it's best to find the most expensive tire sealant (because they tend to be the best) and use as recommended. Once you get thorns in tires you will always get flats even with a new tube because when to go over something solid like a stone it pushed a thorn (that was in the tire but not causing a leak) further in and puncturing the tube.

One of those times when you're glad you didn't fill your tires with liquid.

 

[SDT]

One of those times when you're glad you didn't fill your tires with liquid.

Bingo.

I never use liquid ballast because I still change/repair my own tires.

Punctures is the other reason.

SDT

 

[je1279]

I removed a bunch of black locust trees and bushes last year and they are evil. The only benefit after getting them down and cleaning them up is its a great wood to burn for fires. I have a bunch more to do this year that I'm not looking forward to...

 

[Magicman]

I'll be blowing the chop back into the meadow but assume it will be harmless after going through the chipper.

Personally I would not do that. I would have either a compost or a burn pile.

je1279, Black Locust and Honey Locust are entirely different and so are the thorns.

 

[je1279]

Personally I would not do that. I would have either a compost or a burn pile.

je1279, Black Locust and Honey Locust are entirely different and so are the thorns.

Your not kidding Magicman. I just looked up honey locust and those thorns look vicious! Black locust may rip you up a bit but it is mainly a pain to cut up and kill.

 

[Bmyers]

Your not kidding Magicman. I just looked up honey locust and those thorns look vicious! Black locust may rip you up a bit but it is mainly a pain to cut up and kill.

We are blessed with the Honey Locust trees.

 

[SDT]

Personally I would not do that. I would have either a compost or a burn pile.

je1279, Black Locust and Honey Locust are entirely different and so are the thorns.

Neither would I.

SDT

 

[JimmyJazz]

Your not kidding Magicman. I just looked up honey locust and those thorns look vicious! Black locust may rip you up a bit but it is mainly a pain to cut up and kill.

If that isn't Satans tree I don't know what is.

 

[Dave_eng]

An observation from many years ago inspecting failed tires that when you wanted to cut a tire, wet it and the knife will glide through the rubber.

The lesson I learned from this was to avoid thorns and the like when either they or the tire was wet as a puncture was much more likely. The water was like a lubricant making tire carcass penetration much easier.

Dave