Locust fence posts

mammabooh · #1 05/26/10, 08:32 PM

We're cutting out own posts from the woods...mostly stuff that is down already or dead. Is there anything we should do to the ends before we put them in the ground?

fishhead · #2 05/26/10, 09:23 PM

I think if you can char them they will last longer. You might also want to fill the hole around the post with small rock if you can get it. That way the post isn't in contact with moist soil.

motdaugrnds · #3 05/26/10, 10:12 PM

I have been told that pouring your old oil (when changing oil in car) on the ends will help them last longer. Also, surrounding them with cement (which is what I do for those used for construction) helps them last.

I have, also, read somewhere that "locust" posts are near indistructable!

MELOC · #4 05/26/10, 10:45 PM

i read that using concrete helps them rot by holding in moisture.

one thing i do know for sure is that you should allow the posts to season a bit before you plant them. you want them to dry and shrink before you plant them. they will be denser when they shrink and if they are green, the bark should come free easy after they sit for a while. if you plant them green and then they shrink, they can loosen in the hole. definitely remove the bark because they will sprout...ask me how i know, lol.

if you find the right size trees standing dead with the bark loose or even bare, they should be ready to plant if they are solid enough.

Allen W · #5 05/27/10, 07:30 AM

Black locust make good post. Cut standing trees and set green if you want to put steples in them. Down trees make good firewood, too often I've found rot or soft centers in them.

mammabooh · #6 05/27/10, 08:04 AM

These are all dead but very solid. THe bark just falls right off of them. My hubby has been very careful to look for "punky" (as he calls it) centers...nothing so far. I think we have 14 cut so far. I found a couple more candidates on my walk this morning, so we'll be at it again this evening. This is really fun. Not only are we saving money by using our own posts, but we're cleaning up the woods in the process.

chestnut · #7 05/28/10, 08:04 PM

Locust makes great fence posts. I just poled some out last year that my pap put in in 1950. The part in the ground was in good shape, but where the post met the ground they were getting bad. The only advice I would give is make sure the bark is off and cut the top at a slight angle so that water runs off. If you want to get real crazy paint the top of the post.