Wednesday, August 6, 2008

#051-008. 2 infested locust. Removal. Lewiston ID

Start 08-01-08. Jeremy and Jon. 12 man hours. No cleanup. Locust borers seem to have gotten into most of the Black Locust in the valley. They start in the smaller branches. The next year they are in the larger branches. By the third year the tree is bored full of holes clear into the trunk. They honeycomb the limbs and soon you have branches breaking and dying. There are 3 options. Leave the tree alone except for retrieving broken hangers. [obviously don't park or lay under the tree]. Cut the tree way back [in other words butcher it], and see how well it sprouts back. Or. Removal.
I think it was around 30 years ago when we had an outbreak of locust borers. It wasn't as devastating though. No matter what happens. There will be plenty of locust trees. They keep coming back. Everywhere. Some call it the plague of the Locust. Actually. They are one of my favorite trees. Well suited to the desert climate in the valley. The pioneers brought and planted a lot of them. They are so amazing. They grew up fast and made shade and strong dense rot resistant wood for fence posts, firewood, single trees, etc.

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