Subject: [Graze-l] Honey Locust trees?
> Anyone have any experiences or comments on using honey locust trees
> as shade trees in pastures?
>
Oogie,
I've got a few honey locust (Glendisa tricanthos) in my pastures, and they
provide some shade for my beef cattle but I would not suggest planting them
as shade trees for a number of reasons:
1. According to "Silvics of Forest Trees of the United States," Colorado is
out of the normal range of G. tricanthos. I question how well it would grow
in your climate, and if it would provide shade in a short time frame.
2. G. tricanthos has many very long, sharp thorns that can puncture tractor
tires, and cause hoof problems. There is a thornless variaty, however some
percentage of the seeds will produce thorned plants, and the seeds are
easily spread by livestock and wildlife. Poorly maintained areas can be
infested and become unusable for livestock as the trees can be very
invasive.
3. Animals do love the pods, however seeds are generally produced only every
other year, and in significant amounts only when the tree is about four
years old. The pods shouldn't be counted on as a feed source.
4. G. tricanthos is a legume, but I doubt there is an significant net
increase in the amount of nitrogen a tree contributes to the pasture
ecosystem.
We could also get deep into a discussion of whether or not shade is
neccessary or desirable in a pasture situation as the shade becomes a
"manure magnet." and impacts nutrient distribution. Shade promotes over
grazing near the shade and poor grazing away from it. I do have shade in
most of my padocks, and graze the shadeless ones at night or when it is cool
or cloudy. But that is another topic of discussion.
In short, I don't encourage trees of any type in the pasture. Existing
trees are primarily in the fence rows where they provide a windbreak and a
buffer area for wildlife. A solitary tree in a pasture is sibject to wind
throw and ice damage.
If you feel you have to have trees in your pasture, I will yield to other
members of the list to suggest species as the time I lived in Colorado and
Wyoming was loooong ago, and mostly in the Rockies. Off the cuff though, I
might suggest cottonwoods or a similar populus spp. as they are fast growing
and widespread in the west. An alternative soule be a mobile share or shed
that could be moved with the sheep and located in areas where more grazing
pressure and manure are needed.
Kindest Regards
Steve
Steve Lucas
Mountain View Farm
Louisa, Virginia
www.ibiblio.org/farming-connection/ruralwri/lucas/home.htm
