dead locust

hl_tree

hl_tree

Location
New Fairfield, CT
I was thinking about this the other day and felt like posting it.

Have you guys ever seen or taken down dead locust trees before? I know that I have taken down my fair share of them, and have pruned a few as well. However I can't ever remember seeing, or climbing a dead one. The [use a better word] things are like weeds, they are everywhere and no matter what the conditions they seem to be able to survive.
 
I can't recall ever taken one down either that was dead. Took plenty down that were alive! That is quite an astute observation of you.
 
I've taken plenty of dead locust trees down. They are the worst to climb when dead. The bark falls of quickly and the wood is very hard. Typically they have hidden decay. Very v-shaped crotches make pulling ropes a true chore. My favorite way to take'm down is with a crane, much safer with less knee pain. Largest one I can remember doing was around 40" dia. Good firewood, but crappy trees.
 
I took two down this morning and both were the same. 45 ft. single stem, canker about 20 ft. up made the trunk take a bend, about 10 ft. above that another canker and another bend. Anything else would have been long gone but these were both very much alive. I climbed the last one but got the willys at the second canker when I could look down into a hollow trunk so I climbed back down and used the Hobbs to do a precision flop. 3 more to go and I hope to not look at another one for awhile.
Phil
 
I just remembered after making my initial post that I may have seen a few dead locust trees. They were all immature though, well under 20' tall. Still have yet to see any dead mature ones.

Tom & Mark, sorry for my poor choice of words.
 
here in the midwest honey locust decline is rampant. the defoliators start,(h.l. plant bug, leaf hoppers, mites) next nectria canker, then honey locust borer finishes them off. usually they start to decline at 30-40 yrs. (rarely an 80 yr tree around here) here's a photo where a few came out of a back yard w/ crane.
 

Attachments

  • 44481-deadlocustlongreach.webp
    44481-deadlocustlongreach.webp
    43.6 KB · Views: 67
I was thinking black locust in my head. I took out 5 yesterday with a crane. They can be a bit funny to read. They can have hidden decay. You spend enough time around them you develope an eye for it. I honestly don't trust them much. The have great strenght on the verticle but don't hold up well to any side loads.
 
I've cut plenty of locust some dead some not it's true it can be deceiving i think the tight crotches and rough bark can hide defects. Ithink back to a job i did a dozen years ago two locust in front yard both apeared healthy with little dead wood in both limbed first tree out went to pop the top found tree was split vertical twice aprox 20' as i chunked the wood out it looked like split firewood don't know if it was lightning or wind but since then i've never trusted them eigther
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

New threads New posts

Back
Top Bottom