Black Locust - Very useful tree with real management requirements in the forest garden

[@abigailjacob4043]

Black locust is a GREAT nectar/honey source for bees. So if you're keeping bees for honey production, they are worth having for that.

[@darongw]

Only issue I have is that often people only seem to recommend black locust for temperate food forests. There are other nitrogen fixing trees that can be coppiced or pollarded that are better for soil building. Several types of alders for example are great for this and will fix nitrogen at a higher rate than locust will. There is even an alder here that grows as a shrub giving some nice options when a tree does not work. Plus, alders rot much faster making them great for soil building and they fix nitrogen at a higher rate than locust. But if you want the rot resistant building material or great fire wood then black locust is a great choice. I would grow enough locust to provide the wood I need and then I would pick other utility trees for soil building since in that case you want the wood to rot quickly. I plan to use a mix of alders and maples to get quick biomass plus nitrogen from the alders. All trees I can pollard or coppice. I may plant a small locust grove to provide a good wood supply for my homestead. Still figuring out my design--taking time to observe and work on my water systems.

[@edibleacres]

Thanks for adding this layer of thought onto this. I should have gone into that in this video, but wanted to keep the focus here. By all means, Black Locust is just one of many very legitimate plants that can do good work in early succession. Other excellent N-fixers to explore: River Locust (Amorpha Fruiticosa) Goumi Honey Locust Seaberry Autumn Olive Alders FOR SURE! Groundnut (for the vining layer) So so many more... Black Locust is just one ingredient in a rich and diverse design, and may very well be inappropriate as the choice in many contexts (the thorns and suckering habit can be really incompatible with land use for folks). Thanks for reminding us of the wider lens here!

[@Dollapfin]

EdibleAcres have you done a video on groundnut? I’m very interested in it. Seems like a perfect survival plant to me and the high protein levels are good for someone who doesn’t eat much meat plus I love the flowers.

[@aron8949]

Alders and maples done even compare to black locust ability to grow in degraded, polluted and drought stricken lands.

[@matts3729]

Black locust is extremely adaptable to poor soil and dry soil. Alder is not.

[@kwajrod]

I love Black Locust. It is native to the region I'm from(southeastern USA), so I grew up exposed to it. With a little proper management(mostly just not leaving it unmanaged after root disturbance/pollarding/coppicing), then it is well-behaved. The flowers in spring are stunning and smell like heaven. The bees will love and appreciate you. It casts a beautiful, light, dappled shade that doesn't adversely affect most plants. It also fixes nitrogen in the soil and shares it with nearby plants.

[@bryanburke7947]

Iv got a small farm in Kentucky. Its been passed down threw the family for over 90 years. An old run down barn that was built in 1928 with black locust....Its very strong too this day. Locust can last longer and stay very strong.

[@davidbass7593]

They were popular in years past used for fence posts because the wood took a long time to rot

[@brokenroadhomestead609]

They still are.

[@edibleacres]

We use locust posts extensively for projects. For really long lasting rot proof posts you want much older wood. The logs I showed towards the end will be great for top elements of a trellis and such, but not super rot resistant in the ground until they develop more heartwood...

[@sage0925]

I was told by a neighbor that it used to be called ironwood.

[@davidbass7593]

Mayavata when completely dry they are hard as a rock almost impossible to drive a staple in

[@sage0925]

@@davidbass7593 Yep. My woodpile this year includes a great deal of it. Some of it is as hard as a brick. It's kind of hard to get lit sometimes, so we start our fires with pine, and throw the BL on once it's going good.

[@plumberlance]

Great for bees too. One of the first flower to go to necter.

[@weihuafan1365]

black locust flowers are delicious to eat. pick them when they are just about to bloom or just bloomed the same day. A simple recipe is mixing the flower with a flour/egg coating and make a pancake. Another recipe is coat the flowers with flour and steam for 5-10 minutes, dress with soysauce and sesame seed oil. you can also steam the flower then sun dry them for longer storage. very nutritious and delicious.

[@OfftoShambala]

Thanks for this… I’m looking for regenerative firewood for my property. Being able to dig up & replant suckers, is a real plus. And I need mulching material and shade as well. But, good to know about the shoots, as I sell and recommend plants to people. Appreciate all you’ve done, sharing your knowledge. I just bought an off grid acre w a shack. Gotta get some trees in and get my earthworks going for planting the water.

[@davej7458]

A lot more accurate information about how to use black locusts and what results expect. With pictures of the results, very good.

[@judahjackson9506]

Awesome video! I appreciate you for sharing your wisdom, it was helpful to understand how to manage the sprouts, turning what many consider a negative into a positive🙃

[@edibleacres]

So happy to share

[@paulmurphy612]

They make good trunnels for timber frame construction too.

[@tomfool43]

I have a lot of BL here in Serbia and I agree with all you say. My only gripe is with the way it burns, or rather smolders, always too many sparks compared to my favorite firewood, wild plum, but the locust makes much straighter poles and posts, so wins from that angle. Have you tried making hiking poles from it? I made one from a branch a little under an inch in diameter from which the bark had begun to rot off. It didn't need much straightening and when I sanded it down and oiled it, the outer sap wood went a lovely toffee brown, and the thorn knots really popped out, they look like eyes with a darker 'pupil' and a much lighter ring round them - really nice effect, and a light strong stick.

[@edibleacres]

I think Black Locust needs a TON of time to really cure down and then it's an amazing firewood. We have some stored for 2 years and are excited to have it for firewood this winter :)

[@luciduous]

Love this overview of Locust. I have rediscovered locust from being allowed to harvest one that fell a few years ago. The grain was so beautiful and hard. I am used to looking for oak and walnut, as that is more prevalent to find around here, and I mostly cut for firewood these days. Anyway, I couldn't believe how little I knew of the tree and have fallen in love with it. I saw your video on root prop. of locust and will try the technique. Thanks for the great content!

[@edibleacres]

Definitely have learned that mid to later spring is the ideal time to take root cuttings, and we will take them and put them in a well drained soil in a container that stays in a high tunnel or other very warm space for a bit to help stimulate growth before planting out. Worked well and now we have 7' tall shoots in ONE YEAR!!!

[@timothylongmore7325]

I've got a pretty good patch of bl going. I'm going to pollard my first patch this winter. I do some basket weaving and these shoots look very interesting for weavers.

[@edibleacres]

Sounds great!

[@CovilleR]

Nice! Just picked up a buncha locust lumber. Thanks for the infos. Seems like a great farm tree as long as there's a farmer to tend to it. Without that management, its fierce reforestation at least seems a lot better than the aftermath of using and then neglecting other sources of fuel and materials.

[@edibleacres]

It is just important to know what it will be doing in the landscape once actively in it. I consider it an asset and with hand tools it can generate a ton of useful mulch if spreading into unwanted places, but until the next layer of succession really pushes up and over it to hold it back it can be a bear.

[@aron8949]

Black locust will be my prime pioneer tree in northern nevada! I feel sorry for people who do not understand how to manage these trees and are scared to plant them. I also feel sorry for the people who trim their plants and throw the trimmings in a can. So sad.

[@teflTeacher]

We use black locust as recommended in this video too, but in the second line of the garden alignment. The first line is its "warrior" cousin - honey locust tree (gladitsia triacanthos). It is the best defensing fortress against the unwanted visitors as well as windbreaking natural system. We love all locust trees. They are great allies in all respects.

[@HinduBoy]

Have a lil thicket out back. Thx for the tips. On generating shoots poles / bow / handles (for some Ax / shovels)

[@AB-zf6me]

I was inspired, and dug up some roots and trees the other week. The trees appeared dead, BUT, we are seeing green coming up.

[@edibleacres]

Next time it makes sense to DEFINITELY wait until dormancy season in the fall or early spring, but maybe they'll put on new growth and do well for you!

[@AB-zf6me]

@@edibleacres if in fall, would you grow in-doors or in a greenhouse?

[@wudangmtn]

Great info. I am just starting to plant my fruit orchard, and I definitely plan to include black locust.

[@radjenthakoer1682]

Thank you for rhis very useful information. We had shoots of this tree and saw them as "weed". Now I will use them to benefit our small food forest in France.

[@makeitkate3240]

Looks like you’re in a rainforest! Thanks for the great info!

[@edibleacres]

It can feel that way sometimes

[@XoroksComment]

The wood of black locust is also suitable for making bows. So is Osage Orange. I know an archery instructor that swears by Osage Orange bows, but he says black locust is pretty good.

[@johnpetrucci2590]

9:50 did you say that you eat the flowers? I read that they are toxic.

[@valley3621]

Excellent video!

[@sempi8159]

Great video! Thanks for the knowledge.

[@loganv0410]

Excellent vid - warts and all of a potentially valuable plant Thanx

[@jeffperry9274]

Yellow and Black locust both make very good fence post if you strip the bark off the poles back locust is a little bit better in my opinion but yellow is very very good as well.

[@jameskniskern2261]

You mentioned chop and drop for soil building. I've found that the branches take a long time to break down on the soil, making other chop and drop of weedy material difficult. So... I use much of my black locust small branch material as biochar feed. I make a cheap sheet metal kiln, and char it down. I then add it back to the soils I want to have high carbon content. But, I only put it on top of the soils. The worms do the rest. Thanks for the video.

[@edibleacres]

That seems like a great technique. I'm comfortable having it take a while to break down as we have branchy mulches all over the place.

[@przybyla420]

My workaround for that is to lop everything up into short sections: twigs can be longer, then shorter and shorter with increasing diameter. I cut the material while on the tree bit by bit when possible so you don’t have to bend down or use one hand to hold it. When it’s too big for clippers, I either add it to a pathway border, cut it into firewood, or building or garden material. Everything that’s no good for that goes in brush piles in the shade (brush piles in fields here turn to brambles and you can’t mow).. Once the brush has sat a few years you can pull it apart, collect rotted wood duff/fungal innoculents, and re-pile what’s left. Yes I’m OCD when it comes to chopping and dropping, but I’ve found this system to be really efficient.

[@Dollapfin]

James Kniskern the smallest pieces should be free of heartwood. Should break down relatively fast.

[@Dollapfin]

James Kniskern Have you seen the worms actually till the char in? I hate tillage and I know those worms go deeper.

[@jameskniskern2261]

@@Dollapfin yes. Worms and other critters mix the charcoal bits into the soil. It takes a while but it sure works. I also keep piling on other organic materials on top of the charcoal.

[@rosehavenfarm2969]

Two black locusts planted themselves in our orchard. We love them. We dig up the suckers and plant them out and about, the latest being along a fence line. We like the fact it has thorns, useful for keeping pests out, of the four- and two-legged kind . Regulations in our county allows for only 4 foot fence around our orchard. Our response is to plant thorny friends along the fence: black locust, honey locust, siberian pea shrub, climbing roses, and rugosa roses. We will keep them at just the right height to discourage the deer and other parts (mentioned above).

[@blackwolf073]

Im wanting to do the same. Do Siberian Pes Shrubs have thorns?

[@Regboy]

Thanks for this useful info...we are planning a living fence of locust x Osage orange and are intrigued to see how the two work together. Hoping for a fast growing thorny barrier which will eventually provide fire and polewood...going to try dense catalpa planting on a northern edge for windbreak/privacy and more nitrogen fixing and useful wood (catalpa has worked beautifully in cordwood construction ). ...happy planting!

[@edibleacres]

Sounds like some nice ideas there. I like Catalpa a lot, it's such a fast and beautiful tree.

[@georgecarlin2656]

You have a very dense and beautiful forest, it probably attracts all kinds of bizarre forms of life, do you have leprechauns?

[@edibleacres]

I haven't seen many but I'll keep my eyes out! :)

[@skippy5506]

Cool video, I just took a whole heap of black locust cuttings, it’s got so many cool uses 😁

[@edibleacres]

I'm not sure if those will take as cuttings but certainly worth a shot.

[@skippy5506]

One or two are putting on new growth so fingers crossed 🤞 I took thicker parts whilst it was still dormant thinking it’d be the same as my stone fruit 😅

[@edscukas9689]

I’m deciding between planting some of these and the royal empress trees (or maybe a mix of both) I’m in zone 8 and the purpose would be to grow organic material quickly to keep up with growing need for mulch and material to rebuild my soil (old pine timber tract that was clear cut) . Woodchips aren’t as easy to get. And where I live people burn their leaves instead of bagging (it’s awful). so In a sense of becoming self sustaining and not relying on if.how to get organic material I’m looking to grow and source my own organic materials. I’m also planting white clover throughout my pathways to harvest as mulch and to use as material in the chicken coops, fodder for the chickens and many other benefits clover has.

[@_brandon_1508]

Nice! I absolutely love black locust trees! There used to be a ton of these trees in my neighborhood but we’re all wiped out by our electric company because they were afraid that they would fall and cause damage to power lines due to the trees brittle wood... but anyways on my street we lost 11 very old pine trees for the same reason because they were all within striking distance of power lines so I went up and down the street knocking on peoples doors and asked them if they would like to have these pines replaced and I got approval from all of them to plant a tree on each of their properties! The species I have selected will be mainly black locust, cottonwood, silver maple and Jeffrey pine but I am most excited to plant the black locusts, the reason being is because they are gorgeous and so fast growing so the loss of the old pines will be ugly and sad for now the locusts will quickly make the area beautiful again! Also these trees will be planted as far away from the power lines as possible so that the trees won’t have to be topped or removed but close enough to the road that it’s created a canopy over the road since the power lines are only on the left side of the road

[@edibleacres]

Hopefully there can be some trees that make food in that mix, too!

[@_brandon_1508]

@@edibleacres yes! There will be eventually, for now I’m working replacing the 11 pine trees first because now that there gone there is a lot of open space and it’s not pretty right now but it will be soon!

[@AdaptiveApeHybrid]

Thank you so much for this content. I love these trees!

[@edibleacres]

They are great.

[@talkinghead2004]

I have many large, black locust trees on my property. Many have fungus on them and are dying. I cut down about seven last week. I now understand the there is a pesticide that helps defeat the locust borer (carbaryl or seven). I am wondering, however, if it is too late to use the pesticide once the fungi appear on the tees. If it is not, I'd love to see a video on how to apply the pesticide. (I gather that it should be applied in August - September when the borer is active, so I missed out for this year.) I lost all my ash tree some years ago to the emerald ash borer, so it is really disappointing to see the locust tress now going.

[@davej7458]

When you cut a tree high to pollard it how high should it be cut if you expect to eventualy have large goats browsing the area? When you feed the foliage to animals do you just drop it on the ground or is there a better way to feed when in a pasture?

[@hhwippedcream]

Plant material as fodder is nice too.... Would be great for a goat silvopasture at a certain point in their development. I would also recommend honey locust. Black locust is also very much a short lived tree (at least when you look at taxa where I live in oak savannah).

[@hhwippedcream]

So grateful for your honest take on these traditional species. So many people forget that overgrowth of species is due to under use and under management. If you prune before the seeds, one should do quite well.

[@edibleacres]

Appreciating your lens with all this, thanks for sharing with us all!

[@Drebnau-L]

Can these trees (Robinia and Honey Locust) be planted as a windbreak for sweet chestnut and pecan trees?

[@LittleJordanFarm]

Love this..thanks alot for info. You know though my goats don't seem to be interested in them. Thanks again

[@glennwilck5790]

All those thorns I wouldn't want to eat them either

[@wendyandwalter40]

Interesting. Mine loved it. My experience, though, was that livestock only eats plants high in nutrition they need. On my farm, goats would walk past luscious, beautiful poison ivy without even sniffing it, which is unusual - but obviously they weren't deficient in whatever PI was heavy in nutrient wise.

[@LittleJordanFarm]

@@wendyandwalter40 I agree..I've also had some love poison ivy and others pass by. They know what they need

[@dami2001]

Where I live black locust spreads very easily and has so many thorns, it requires a lot of management as you said but there are many benefits. To be honest I got rid of it with a lot of effort. I believe I will plant thornless honey locusts which are still useful plants and If I am not wrong they do not produce suckers. Thank you very much for sharing your experience with the black locust tree. Dami.

[@edibleacres]

Honey Locust does not send up suckers as far as I know

[@Erewhon2024]

Honey locust is a great fodder tree but doesn't nodulate. It is debated whether or not it can fix nitrogen by another mechanism, but it probably isn't a superior species for that.

[@dami2001]

@@edibleacres thank you very much for your information!

[@dami2001]

@@Erewhon2024 Thank you so much for your information!

[@michelifig6356]

@@edibleacres good to know

[@davidpeightal4918]

Thank you.

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

Great info. Locust can be used for cordwood masonry.

[@edibleacres]

Some dense walls I bet!

[@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid]

Great info! I don’t think they grow in zone 4 but I really liked learning. 👍👍

[@edibleacres]

They are hardy to zone 4. I know of people up in zone 4 Vermont growing them.

[@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid]

@@edibleacres Wow! I am so surprised but will definitely be doing more research on them now.

[@jillhoward1452]

I just found one growing wild on my parents' property, also in Vermont, but more like zone 3.

[@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid]

Jill Howard very cool!

[@joanjarrette8691]

@@edibleacres will they grow in Canada?

[@benjamindejonge3624]

Are they evergreen? I mean in the northern continental they use willow coppace as fuel for power stations, harvesting with a sort of maiscorn combine in the winter frost . It’s not a mulch machine but a chopped wood cutter for feeding heaters systems

[@edibleacres]

They are not evergreen...

[@amyjones2490]

Good talk. Thanks for sharing your experience.

[@allonesame6467]

Growing and managing fertility in situ synergistically!

[@75shadystorm]

I just dug one up to give to someone because i thought they were poisonous for animals and people to eat. Are they not? Im really considering keeping it, for the pollinators and nitrogen aspects and amazing usage being rot free and hardwood.

[@susanidepatton9338]

I have a small locust ‘grove’ that I am thinking of partially harvesting for fencing or possibly to mill for a tent platform. Now after seeing your presentation, I’m thinking maybe I should pollard instead.

[@edibleacres]

Could be worthwhile if you have deer pressure and a desire for another harvest in your lifetime.

[@liz-sy2lj]

do you think it would be okay to plant black locust about 10 feet apart from each other? or closer? i'm wanting to create a screen.

[@ethantreadaway7169]

The wood from that type of tree is the best for bow makeing

[@edibleacres]

So many wonderful values to Black Locust.

[@adelepoe5438]

How do the attributes of black locust compare with honey locust? I have honey locust, but for firewood and building material, should I seek out black locust? Or are they comparable?

[@edibleacres]

You can research, but I believe Black Locust would be more rot resistant and higher BTU... That said, if you already have a resource on the land that has some high value in it's own right!

[@peterellis5626]

I'm curious about the choice to pollard rather than coppice. Could you explain your reasoning there? I very much want to add black locust to the makeup of our forest here in SW MI for a variety of reasons. Along with lots of other things, lol. So Much To Do! Black alder for nitrogen fixing in wet soil; willows to help with pulling some of the water out of our wet soil and provide crafting materials, seaberry, goumi, the lists go on and on ;)

[@edibleacres]

The pollarding is about keeping the regrowth above the browsing height of the deer that move through the area.

[@KlausBioMadsen]

Thanks for the video. So if you don't pollard or coppice them they don't produce suckers at all?

[@edibleacres]

No, the suckering happens either way!

[@tracybruring8440]

Do they spread like a mesquite?

[@tracybruring8440]

never mind I posted that before I watched this. the answer is yes

[@michaelripperger5674]

But they don’t have nasty thorns

[@tracybruring8440]

@@michaelripperger5674 oh ok I thought they did have thorns; tu

[@edibleacres]

They do have thorns.

[@michaelripperger5674]

Ahh maybe they are sisters from another mister

[@aurorafree5842]

I have one question, I bought a small plot of about 12000 sq ft, which is completely covered with black locust. The problem that bothers me is whether I will be able to build a house on the land if I cut down trees, of course I do not want to cut down all the trees, but I would certainly cut down most of the trees, now , is it possible they make a problem under the house if I build a house, the foundation will be of pillars, so they will have space under to start growing again. How can I avoid regrowth and is there a possibility that the whole terrain where the house would be could be plowed with a tractor,would that help me stop regrowth. I would not like to treat the soil with chemicals, since i'm planning to make a small garden in one part, although I do not know if I will be able to, since I saw that these trees does not allow a clean surface where it can be a garden. correct me if I'm wrong and give me some advice if you have. Thank you for your time and understanding.

[@Shaker_Hill_Sugarworks]

Could you share the specs and source of that ditch blade you are using? Thanks.

[@edibleacres]

I'll plan to do a vide on it soon... One Scythe Revolution is the company...

[@Shaker_Hill_Sugarworks]

@@edibleacres Thanks. I have one of his snaths and a blade that I thought was a ditch blade but after one use in an area of thick golden rod the blade had three cracks in it. I see he has a heavier duty ditch blade and I am guess that is the one you have. Look forward to the video.

[@Invictum594]

You mentioned “cold weather” environment for black locust. Is there a tree with the same utility that does well in hotter dry environment? I live in San Diego zone 10b for reference

[@edibleacres]

Hmmm... I don't know but maybe Moringa is something to explore?

[@wolfbirdhomestead600]

Mimosa or eucalyptus?

[@Leonidimus59]

Does it spread easily by seed? I don't mind dealing with suckers but don't want to chase it all over my large forest

[@edibleacres]

I haven't had them come up in a strong way from seed, just mainly suckers

[@VicsYard]

Great video Thank you!

[@allismusic263]

Hi, Great video, many thanks for sharing. I'd like to ask at what stage from planting time can you start cutting it back for mulch (chop and drop style)?

[@ksero1000]

Will continuing to keep cutting back the root suckers make the parent tree more healthy or do those suckers mean the parent tree is dying? Im new to this property that has two along the bordering the back yard leading into forest thats unfortunatelu being engulfed by tangled mass of japanese honeysuckle vines. I really need the high shade from the ones in the open space, but I'm afraid are dying bc the fallen branches are all over the place around the old trees (which I use to frame around the hydrangeas I planted). I'm hoping that's normal and normal that they seem to lose their leaves earlier than common trees. Wow I love the fence you made! Thanks for uploading!

[@edibleacres]

They definitely lose their leaves early and leaf out late... That is normal... I'm not sure I can say that seeing suckers means the parent trees are dying. It generally more means there is disturbance happening in the soil or the context is changing. I think you can cut them out as needed, but ask for more opinions of course!

[@ksero1000]

@@edibleacres Thank you! Loving the channel!!!

[@drekfletch]

Might I request a video of compare/contrast black locust vs osage orange? Everything I've found gives a very surface summary of each or about how to distinguish one from the other. There's not much to help decide which might be best for one's situation.

[@edibleacres]

We don't have very established Osage... But both are wonderful trees for sure!

[@David-kd5mf]

It seems like black locust could be managed as a hedge

[@edibleacres]

Sure could.

[@David-kd5mf]

@@edibleacres I think I'm gonna try it. Got an air pruning bed with some seedling black locust in my backyard and am gonna try a black locust hedge near property borders.

[@tomfool43]

I have an old honey locust 'hedge' or living wall on my land. The individual stems have welded together and the thing looks pretty bull proof to me with those monstrous black tines! But the way several separate plants have joined together above an old pollard line is interesting. I wonder if it's just something the tree does or if it means they're all genetic clones.

[@David-kd5mf]

@@tomfool43 good to know. What spacing do they have?

[@sage0925]

Black Locust is lusted after in my area for firewood. It grows like crazy in Boise near the creeks and streams. Up here in the mountains, all we have is pine. BL, as I understand it, has the highest BTU's of any wood in North America. Stuff burns longer and hotter than pine.

[@Dollapfin]

Mayavata25 live oak, hop hornbeam, hickory, Osage orange, and persimmon can be denser, however remember that trees don’t always grow the same. My shop teacher has a section of cherry that I believe is denser than teak!

[@jeffreydustin5303]

does the black locust mulch rot easily or remain on the soil longer than say pine straw, woodchips, etc.?

[@edibleacres]

If it is chopped up it breaks down very vary fast. As branches it certainly sticks around for a bit...

[@navarra4]

But how do you know the goats ect. Can eat it. And is it edible for humans

[@bencapozzi]

What experience do you all have with black locust and chickens and/or ducks? Mostly I’m concerned about toxicity. I read in some places it’s poisonous to poultry.

[@edibleacres]

I have no direct experience, sorry.

[@tepesSTM]

chickens love the leaves...they'll only eat what they want ...that is my experience

[@andrewsblendorio]

Are there any effective rhizome barriers to prevent black locust suckers from spreading in a certain direction?

[@edibleacres]

I don't know that there would be. THey are super powerful. Same with bamboo. I'd say pruning shears or a scythe :). The good news is that they are amazing mulch plants so it is worth the management.

[@michelifig6356]

@@edibleacres could it b tamed in a big pot?

[@RealFrankyDog]

I’m just starting to do some management of several acres of prairie surrounded by a tree line containing black locusts. Just learning about black locusts now after I cut a larger one down to add sunlight for a maple I planted. Now I’m noticing two other larger locusts with leaves withering as if the trees are dying. Would cutting down one locust kill two others?

[@edibleacres]

I haven't heard of that but I can't say for sure... hmmm...

[@keaco73]

Thanks for the video! What did you mean that they are rot resistant? They just take longer than the average wood to rot?

[@edibleacres]

Sure do. Heartwood Black Locust is incredibly rot resistant compared to Pressure Treated or any other lumber.

[@midwestplantgeeks8643]

That they sucker and create thickets should cause you concern. I find in wooded areas they tend to be tamer due to competition but in open areas they take over.. Every year more and more work to keep them in check. However, love is blind in this case.

[@getintothewildwithjeffruma8777]

Are black Locust and Honey Locust the same tree just a different name? Or different types?

[@edibleacres]

Different plants for sure. Some overlap in characteristics but different beings

[@Mikedenton541]

Wheee did you get the saplings or seeds? VERY straight poles.

[@edibleacres]

Those are standard genetics, but planted pretty close and a bit of effort to prune side branches translates into nice clean runs of wood.

[@darthvader5300]

There are two kinds of Black Locust trees. The 1st one is the brown wood black locust tree whose wood decomposes easily into humus and fixes nitrogen and used to recover mined out areas and is a very short and shrubby and short lived tree. The 2sd one is the yellow wood black locust tree whose wood can last as long as a stone and is used as a permanent wood for permanent wooden structures and is a a tall straight tree which is why this yellow wood black locust is also called as "ship mast locust tree" for it is used for making ship masts and it's wood is highly and virtually resinous. The highly and virtually resinous yellow wood black locust tree is long lived and is a nitrogen-fixer.

[@judahjackson9506]

Do you happen to know the scientific names of both species I would like to be able to identify which seeds to buy.

[@darthvader5300]

@@judahjackson9506 (1) Robinia pseudoacacia var. rectissima The yellow locust is a tree, called "yellow" because the wood is a lighter. the tall, straight tree pressumed nonexistent in the Appalachian forest had, for generations, been alive and well in Long Island, New York, where it was called the "shipmast" locust, and had been planted, under the encouragement of the Soil Conservation Services, to reduce erosion and enrich the soil. This tree is called as THE TREE THAT LAST LIKE A STONE for it's wood won't rot, immune from insects. The reason why it is called shipmast locust is because it is aa straight as a shipmast used in ships before. The yellow locust is long-lived---borers do not trouble it---and the wood, used by mountain people as structural timber bridges and buildings as well as fenceposts, is virtually indestructible. It can only be reproduced by rooted cuttings and rarely by seeds. You can either go to Long Island, New York to ask for rooted cuttings or ask a forest ranger for information in your area on where you can acquire rooted cuttings of the yellow locust. The yellow locust wood is colored "YELLOW". (2) The ordinary black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is a tree that grows typically to forty or fifty feet in this region (and occasionally to seventy or eighty) - a smallish, gganrly-looking tree with wide, complex branching, beginning low on the trunk. It's forked branches make the tree subject to borers, and therefore the tree has a short life span of fifty to seventy-five years, and rots away rather quickly after being cut. It's wood is not commercially valuable. This tree is only useful as firewood and to reclaim mined out areas. The color of the ordinary black locust is "BROWN". The ordinary black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is a tree that grows typically to forty or fifty feet in this region (and occasionally to seventy or eighty) - a smallish, gganrly-looking tree with wide, complex branching, beginning low on the trunk. It's forked branches make the tree subject to borers, and therefore the tree has a short life span of didty to seventy-five years, and rots away rather quickly after being cut. It's wood is not commercially valuable. The yellow locust is an another matter entirely. This tree, called "yellow" because the wood is a lighter color than that of the black locust (which is brown), has the same sprays of compound leaves as the black, and the same leguminous seed pods, like the pods of field peas or fava beans. But there the similarities end. The yellow locust rises as tall and straight as the mast of a saling ship in the forest, it's branches not beginning on the stout trunk until fifty or sixty feet from the ground. It's crown is narrow, not broad like the black locust's, and at the top of the tree is at or above the canopy ---often at 150 feet ir higher, Also unlike the black locust, the yellow locust is long-lived---borers do not trouble it---and the wood, used by mountain people as structural timber bridges and buildings as well as fenceposts, is virtually indestructible. The mystery of the yellow locust as a tree distinct from the black aises not because the mountain people are confused, but because the yellow was more or less "lost" n the literature of academic botany for over forty years. It is perhaps no wonder that young botanists and foresters deny it's exstence. Recently, a smapling of this lost literature was collected by John Flynn, who, following up a vaque reference in Donald Culross Peattie's 1950 book A natural History of Treets, scoured the U.S. Department of Agriculture Library at Beltsville, Mryland (with the enthuasistic help of te librarian on duty), for early articles on the yellow locust. Reading through a packet of a half a dozen papers from the 1930s and 1940s, he found that the tall, straight tree pressumed nonexistent in the Appalachian forest had, for generations, been alive and well in Long Island, New York, where it was called the "shipmast" locust, and had been planted, under the encouragement of the Soil Conservation Services, to reduce erosion and enrich the soil. The tree was identified in 1936 as a separate botanical variety by Oran Raber (Robinia pseudoacacia var. rectissima).

[@taylorkuhla4327]

Our alders plant themselves all over here. I use them the same way.

[@edibleacres]

Very lovely plant for sure.

[@KristyLeeVlogs]

Is this the same property that you have the chicken composting system on?

[@edibleacres]

No. Kind of complex scene overall, some of the videos are from our 6 acre parcel where my folks live, like this video.... Most, including the chickens and high tunnels, etc., are our .5 acre spot where my wife and I live.

[@liam314]

Do you know how long it takes for black locust to start flowering again after it has been pollarded? I know some trees like Tilia cordata never flower if you pollard them.

[@edibleacres]

I'm not quite sure, I'll let you know if I see good flowering this year, this will be 3 years from pollarding.

[@liam314]

@@edibleacres Great thank you so much.🙏

[@CajunGramps]

Do you sell black locust trees. I live in southern Arkansas. If you sell them, how much including shipping?

[@edibleacres]

We plan to sell them again in the fall. We ask $15 a piece for shipmast locust, super super straight and nice trees.

[@johnlangston4963]

Hello I have a question. I purchase my land in 1994 and theses I called green beans are big. I have only 2 of these tree and the are 50 foot tall. My question is I want to eat these bean again they grow and get over 12 inch or more long and the beans are as big as a quarter the bean only black as coal. I heard that trees that grows defeat could be eaten I mean the bean. Hope you can answer can the bean be cook and eaten just like you do any other bean. Enjoyed your 📫

[@edibleacres]

Not sure if Black Locust can be eaten, I don't believe so...

[@Erewhon2024]

Black locust has toxic seeds/legumes. Twelve inches sounds more like a Catalpa, which isn't in the bean family. Don't eat anything you can't positively identify (& verify to be edible & how to prepare it so that it is edible). I would buy or check out a guide to local trees and key it out based on flowers, leaves, bark, fruit, etc. Then you might be able to find culinary traits (or not) by checking with a forager's channel / book / website. Green Deane (eattheweeds) does a good job for the SE USA.

[@johnlangston4963]

@@Erewhon2024 Hello Thanks for the info. It been two months .. Know one would answer my question . The tree has long thorns about 3 " long. You almost can use it for a. 8 penny nail. Everyyear these I call long black green bean shape fall to the ground about l00 and if you let it dry out the beans is on the inside of a hull hard and black. Just as hard as any dry bean from the store. Thanks for the reply.

[@1885dr]

I have found a thicket close to my house , would these be good candidates? Thanks for all your great input.

[@edibleacres]

Could be!

[@razpet20]

I have just one additional question here, before I plant these. Once you scythe or cut the sprouts, is this also considered an "attack" on the tree, and do they keep resprouting during the season if you continually cut them back? Or does this action happen just once you pollard them, and then they are calm for the rest of the season (if you just scythe the sprouts once and don't pollard the tree again)?

[@edibleacres]

I haven't watched super closely, but each round of pruning, digging, cutting, etc., seems to be very stimulating to more expansion and growth. It's a little crazy but pretty wonderful too.

[@razpet20]

@@edibleacres Ah ok, then it's settled. I will rather just plant it where I'm comfortable even if it escapes a bit, as opposed to risking putting it on a border with neighbour's grassland. :) Thank you.

[@fourdayhomestead2839]

Link for ditch blade you use?

[@edibleacres]

www.onescytherevolution.com/quick-order.html - I got the light bush blade type...

[@patrick8198]

Is it safe for animals to eat the leaves???????

[@edibleacres]

Mixed reviews from folks but we know a good numberof people feeding sheep with stems andleaves of locust with noproblems

[@lunethgardens]

Black locust or Leucaena for desert Southwest in AZ? I don’t even know if black locust would survive out here. What are your thoughts?

[@edibleacres]

I'm not sure, but I wouldn't be surprised.

[@kwajrod]

Mesquite, New Mexico Locust and Palo Verde are in the same family and are native to that region. I think Black Locust needs a steadier supply of water than it would get there, unless you plan to irrigate it somehow.

[@nancyfahey7518]

That's how I have to control the golden rain tree here in Florida. I let them grow for chop n drop. Pluck the seedlings and throw them in my raised gardens. They are endless.

[@miqf914]

Hi, Nancy. Do you (or anyone else who reads this) happen to know if the seeds of the golden rain tree are toxic to chickens?

[@nancyfahey7518]

I googled it, Golden Chain is toxic. This is Golden Rain tree, Koelreuteria paniculata. Now that you bring this up, I realize why I had so many seedlings this year. I built a fence where the chicken can't get to it. I'll have to let them out this fall. Thanks for that.

[@kerem7546]

isn't black locust toxic to animals? or is it a certain part of the plant? would be interested in a compare and contrast in honey locust and black locust for the purposes of silvopasture and firewood production

[@edibleacres]

I don't have direct experience with feeding black locust to animals but I know a number of people that swear by it as a high quality feed...

[@kerem7546]

@@edibleacres ya, steve gabriel at Cornell claims it has the same nutritional value as alfalfa

[@kerem7546]

@@edibleacres did a little research and found that black locust does have a similar nutritional profile to alfalfa, though it is important to trunk of the tree mature to about 3 seasons, so that farm animals do not ingest the bark/trunk of the growing tree.

[@Erewhon2024]

I'd be careful with it for monogastric animals. It is toxic to people.

[@ryanmoon4125]

Isn't black locust toxic for animals to consume?

[@edibleacres]

I don't think it is, but don't take my word for it.

[@Susan77ism]

No mention of the thorns? Our Black Locust trees have big big thorns on them! Ouch!

[@edibleacres]

They've got thorns for sure. I'm so used to working with a wide mix of thorny plants I forget about them!

[@kwajrod]

Honey Locust have large thorns, not Black Locust, which has small ones, although you still have to respect them.

[@CliffsidePermaculture]

Have you by chance seen if the black locusts compete okay with tree of heaven? I have a cliff area that's currently populated by tree of heaven and I'm limited that i can't just remove them without risking land slide, and they are allelopathic to most other plants, but I would like something more native and useful there instead none the less, preferably with a less aggressive seeding habit, more aggressive rooting habit, and that doesn't smell as bad. Thank you so very much for your support informative videos!

[@edibleacres]

I would explore it. You may find that you can coppice or pollard the tree of heaven when dormant and then manage the regrowth as incredibly fast and rich mulch for gardens. This keeps the roots intact while you release more light to the ground for other characters to plug in...

[@CliffsidePermaculture]

@@edibleacres i am currently pollarding them. They really smell bad and send millions of seeds up into the growing space of my garden so I'd like to plan for a future with a less invasive and more useful tree. I'm hoping to give a thornless black locus a try!

[@joecliffordson]

I have heard black locust is toxic to goats and sheep. Has anyone got first hand experience grazing in locust?

[@TheCompanion-gx5bz]

My sheep LOVE eating black locust leaves and even strip the bark off the branches I prune off.

[@MrChickadee]

Is there any evidence for nitrogen fixing trees actually feeding their neighbors? I understand the idea behind it, just curious if it has actually been tested. I don't even need a scientific paper, a simple experience based type test would suffice. For example, someone noting more substantial growth in fruit trees inter planted with legume trees that are pruned regularly....absent of other factors for example. Ive read that it may not be so simple with legumes, they do make nitrogen, but only for themselves. You must rob them of the nitrogen in some way, like cutting and composting the green parts of say beans and letting it go back to the soil rather than harvesting the beans and removing the upper plant waste. Ive heard claims of the pruning action causing roots to die and release nitrogen, but this is also a bit counterintuative with what we see with coppice for example, the coppiced root just gets bigger and bigger and regrows faster each time, it does not seem to be killing roots when it is pruned each time??? Ive got access to lots of locust, both honey and black, and am considering adding them to the orchard, but I want to know it is actually worth the space, time and care. Thank you for your thoughts and time.

[@edibleacres]

We have some areas with Autumn Olive that after pruning seem to provide a huge boost to the plants around them. I have no science or numbers to offer, but I can say my experience and observation seems to support my feelings that N-fixers are beneficial, especially when chop and drop practices are put into place. Maybe try just a few in a given area and watch the changes (if there are any to experience)

[@12vLife]

Do these thrive in south Central Florida in sandy soil? How easy to propagate from cuttings? Do the shots have thorns? Anybody know what tree this is? gardening.stackexchange.com/questions/51993/is-this-an-osage-orange-or-osage-silk-tree-in-central-florida

[@Erewhon2024]

I do know it is neither a black locust (wrong shape, wrong leaves) nor a che (Cudrania tricuspidata, silkworm thorn)--wrong flower buds, and somewhat wrong foliage. Lycium might be possible (I'd want to see the open flowers or the fruit to tell; Lycium will look like goji berries). FL has a lot of thorn scrub.

[@jameshack485]

Do you have the thornless variety? I see a few thorns on the tree trunk but not on the branches. I'm thinking of using black locust for a living perimeter fence on the border of my property. Need them to be thick bushes and not taller trees.

[@edibleacres]

These trees have thorns.

[@louisecamm9058]

I have read that the black locusts tree is poisonous to humans and livestock?? I would love to know if this is true. Please comment

[@edibleacres]

I do not believe this is true, but we've only eaten the flowers (they are amazing). We have friends who feed leaves and branches to sheep and goats...

[@thecurrentmoment]

I guess with giraffes you would need to pollard them quite high

[@rochrich1223]

Right. There is a theory I believe that since the thorns and branchiness ends when the tree gets above a certain height, that shows it evolved alongside the mammoth. So to use them as fodder most effectively, we should bring in elephants or clone a frozen mammoth.

[@timothykeith1367]

Black locust would be widely grown commercially except that it is susceptible to the locust borer.

[@anopinion4this]

Got two huge for my yard and was sprouting little shoots I had to take it down a year ago and now I have 50 to 70 shoots in my yard I had to have someone come and pour diesel fuel in order to kill it will this not grow next year and the stump was removed!

[@edibleacres]

Yikes, diesel fuel, really!?!? That is an incredibly long lasting cancer causing addition to your landscape, in trade for not having to mow a few more times? Cutting a tree a few more times seems less annoying than cancer, but to each their own.

[@champagnewalkersequinemass3568]

I thought locust were toxic to a imals

[@edibleacres]

They definitely aren't!