Paul E. Lehmann wrote:
There are a couple trees on unkept city property adjacent to my house.
The city does not maintain this area at. A few years ago they ojected
to me cutting down a few trees even though they don't mow or even pick
up trash and litter in this area and the trees were trash trees. Before
they found out that I had cut them down I had already replanted with
Cherry tree and other attractive trees.

There are still a couple trees that are shading my backyard vineyard. I
believe they are black locust. Is there an easy way to kill these
trees? They are at least 40 feet tall and probably close to 8 to 10
inches in diameter. I would like to turn them into woodpeckers heaven -
dead trees.

Take a 3/4 inch drill and drill a hole at a 45 degree angle down near
the base. Fill it with salt and refill it when the salt is absorbed.
Alternatively ring the bark, ie take a strip of bark off the tree about
1 inch wide all the way around. Do it low enough and the grass will hide
it. May take awhile to die but it has never failed me when I've done either.

Black locust is considered a desirable wood for fence posts by some
people in the NE US. My FIL in MD loved the stuff for that use.

George