Cleaning up 5 acres

[Capstone]

Hard to believe we baled hay here when I was a kid. There was one large Honey Locust (huge thorns) tree at the back of the property. Fast forward 30 years and 80%+ of the small trees in the foreground are Honey Locust.

Hired a forestry mulcher for 8 hrs to get rid of most of them. You can actually see the pond again.



Before and after:





Thorns EVERYWHERE. Got a subcompact (LS MT 125) and have started the cleanup.



Raking in reverse and watching for thorns as I go.



I fully expect an invasion of Honey Locust shoots next spring. I think they’ll be under control in a year or two between mowing, spraying, and the cleanup crew.

The cleanup crew

 

[Vaquero]

Those honey Locust are bad news.
Cleanup crew looks anxious to get started.

How much did the hydro axe cost ya for 8 hours?

 

[Capstone]

Those honey Locust are bad news.
Cleanup crew looks anxious to get started.

How much did the hydro axe cost ya for 8 hours?

$150/hr. He was half the price of two others I called. Would have been worth it either way...he did in a day what would have taken me months to do.

 

[Diggin It]

Did you get the tires filled? Be careful either way, the R4s may not stop those thorns.

 

[Capstone]

Did you get the tires filled? Be careful either way, the R4s may not stop those thorns.

Not filled but dealer put Ultraseal in them. I think there are very few tires made that could stop those suckers. Being extra careful - last thing I want is a flat on brand new tires.

 

[ovrszd]

You're definitely gonna test Ultraseal!!!

I have took out Honey Locust trees. Simply doesn't phase em. The roots shoot up new trees.

I cleared half a dozen large ones in a fencerow 8 years ago. They still shoot sprouts 50ft away in the field. I diligently spray the new ones each Spring. I've saw no less numbers each year.

I think the Mulcher will make this much worse. Anxious to see the results!!!! Thanks for posting the pics and your progress.

 

[Capstone]

You're definitely gonna test Ultraseal!!!

I have took out Honey Locust trees. Simply doesn't phase em. The roots shoot up new trees.

I cleared half a dozen large ones in a fencerow 8 years ago. They still shoot sprouts 50ft away in the field. I diligently spray the new ones each Spring. I've saw no less numbers each year.

I think the Mulcher will make this much worse. Anxious to see the results!!!! Thanks for posting the pics and your progress.

Get out of here with that kind of talk!

Only positive, anti-Honey Locust thoughts allowed in this thread.

But do you have my secret weapon? Black belly sheep...browsers.

 

[ovrszd]

Get out of here with that kind of talk!

Only positive, anti-Honey Locust thoughts allowed in this thread.

But do you have my secret weapon? Black belly sheep...browsers.

I know, I'm sorry, sometimes reality hurts!!!

I think Honey Locust shoots are so prolific that even the sheep will get tired of eating the leaves. After all,,, I love a good Steak but don't want to live on Steak alone.

 

[Capstone]

I cleared half a dozen large ones in a fencerow 8 years ago. They still shoot sprouts 50ft away in the field. I diligently spray the new ones each Spring. I've saw no less numbers each year.

So the one large HL when I was a kid was actually just across the fence on 100 acres we leased. Developer bought the hundred acres and took down the HL. The result was our 5 acres full of them.

I sprayed about 50% of the cut stumps with Remedy after the mulcher was done. Hoping that will kill some of the root system.

Time will tell.

 

[ovrszd]

So the one large HL when I was a kid was actually just across the fence on 100 acres we leased. Developer bought the hundred acres and took down the HL. The result was our 5 acres full of them.

I sprayed about 50% of the cut stumps with Remedy after the mulcher was done. Hoping that will kill some of the root system.

Time will tell.

Yep. You've already witnessed how they spread under ground. It's the damnedest thing I've every saw. Much worse than Eastern Red Cedar.

I use Remedy to spray the sprouts and it works great.

I removed my trees with a backhoe. Completely removed the stump and all exposed roots. Sure surprised me that they are still sending up shoots years later.....

 

[jeff9366]

Dow 'Remedy' is a really effective herbicide for woody plants and Locust is a specific target in the directions.

60.45% Triclopyr, 39.55% inert ingredients.

Most effective mixed with diesel, kerosene or fuel oil.

Very effective but more hazardous than less effective alternatives.

 

[Capstone]

Little morning therapy

Good to know the thorns burn quickly and completely.

 

[Handloader109]

The cleanup crew will do some good, the goats I've had didn't like locust. Ymmv. But they are the only thing I've ever seen that could kill a wild running rose. I sprayed them for years and would just stunt them. Goats would pick every leaf off of them....

 

[koshari]

The cleanup crew
View attachment 615279

we have a couple of goats going through tether training atm for similar work. down here its blackberries and bracken that they ply their trade on.

 

[Capstone]

The cleanup crew will do some good, the goats I've had didn't like locust. Ymmv. But they are the only thing I've ever seen that could kill a wild running rose. I sprayed them for years and would just stunt them. Goats would pick every leaf off of them....

Luckily, I haven’t seen a leaf these sheep don’t love.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

We don't have honey locust trees here (or back in AZ). I don't know how deep the runner roots are below the surface, but would a chisel plow/cultivator get deep enough to pull the runners up out of the ground? Or a middle buster if you need to reach deeper?

Just curious.

 

[ericm979]

Dow 'Remedy' is a really effective herbicide for woody plants and Locust is a specific target in the directions.

60.45% Triclopyr, 39.55% inert ingredients.

Most effective mixed with diesel, kerosene or fuel oil.

Very effective but more hazardous than less effective alternatives.

Triclopyr is relatively safe compared to many other herbicides. It breaks down fairly quickly in the soil. I mix it like you describe for basal application. Dampen a foot of the stem and it will kill the whole plant in a month or 6 weeks. Done like this there's actually less herbicide sprayed around the environment than if you were to do the usual foliar application of 1-2% in water, where you have to wet all the leaves to kill the plant.

The high concentration in oil works really well on poison oak (especially when it's grown up into a tree and the leaves are 50' up). I also use it on eucalyptus trees I cut down. They are vigorous resprouters.

 

[Capstone]

We don't have honey locust trees here (or back in AZ). I don't know how deep the runner roots are below the surface, but would a chisel plow/cultivator get deep enough to pull the runners up out of the ground? Or a middle buster if you need to reach deeper?

Just curious.

I’d be curious too. I’ve never used that equipment and I suspect a subcompact wouldn’t be up to the task.

I did try digging down a few inches with the FEL on one stump this morning. Plan is to dig down a few inches and cut the stump just below ground. I found a large root (1” on a 3” stump) running perfectly horizontal less than an inch below ground. Guessing that’s part of why they spread so easily.

 

[Capstone]

Update: 9mos post forestry mulcher. Very pleased with the results. I haven't been able to find a single shoot coming up so far. I did find about a dozen missed trees that have now been sprayed with Remedy.

I think between spraying the cut stumps and having the browsers they've been mostly knocked out. I'll reserve complete satisfaction for one more year

 

[civilian]

Update: 9mos post forestry mulcher. Very pleased with the results. I haven't been able to find a single shoot coming up so far. I did find about a dozen missed trees that have now been sprayed with Remedy.

I think between spraying the cut stumps and having the browsers they've been mostly knocked out. I'll reserve complete satisfaction for one more year
View attachment 654101

Looks much better than when the mulcher finished. Hope you have good future results. Jon