Getting rid of locust roots
 

My husband and I had about 9000 square feet of our yard professionally cleared
this spring, and removed about 30 locust trees. Now, all we are doing is
getting rid of locust shoots. They are everywhere!!!! He is trying to remove
the giant root system wherever he finds it, but as you may know, that is a
massive job! Any suggestions on how to get rid of these once and for all? We
would like to landscape with some different trees and shrubs.

Thanks,
Caroline

--
Humankind has not woven the web of life.
We are but one thread within it.
Whatever we do to the web, we do to ourselves.
All things are bound together.
All things connect." Chief Seattle

"The Popovics" wrote in message
news:Rck%c.258358$8_6.245583@attbi_s04...
My husband and I had about 9000 square feet of our yard professionally
cleared
this spring, and removed about 30 locust trees. Now, all we are doing is
getting rid of locust shoots. They are everywhere!!!! He is trying to
remove
the giant root system wherever he finds it, but as you may know, that is a
massive job! Any suggestions on how to get rid of these once and for all?
We
would like to landscape with some different trees and shrubs.

I have to tell you after my own tree specialist came to my place this spring
that he said the only way you can successfully remove locust shoots are to
consistantly mow them down for two years as they spring up. The wood is
called "iron wood" for a reason. If you let ONE shoot grow into a sapling,
you'll deffinately have more locust trees wheather you want them or not. If
you poison them it really won't work unless you have a professional use a
stronger type of brush removal and that would poison the yard for other
things.

Michael told me removing the new shoots from the remaining roots would
weaken the roots over two or three years until none grew anymore. I have
several honey locust trees myself on my property and he saw them immediately
and told me cutting them wouldn't be as big a problem with his chainsaw, as
my persistance at chopping the saplings off at the ground as they sprang up
(he said mowing them and weed eating them would work too, but mine are where
I can't do that).

He said locust do this for two years after they're cut. Which is why he hate
cutting them until he knows the owners will remove them regularly or they'll
have three times as many trees as they had before! Locust are the same type
of runner trees as aspens.........(and a variety of other suckering trees)

I hope this helps a little.

Thanks,
Caroline