I have some locust I took down that have been laying on the ground in the way for a few years. I don't know if this is just the sap wood rotting off or if the post will be trash for a fence post or fire wood ahead suport in the future. Befor I have the boys cut them up to get rid of thought I would ask here first.

Saw the end off one, and check out the heartwood...You really need to get them off the ground quickly to cure after cutting, and take the bark off them within the first year, it usually falls right off or doesn't need much coaxing.

Build a hot fire and char 3 ft on the end to be put in the ground before fencing, and you have a 100 yr fencepost...The natural oils within black locust act as a preservative.

If you end up burning what you have for firewood, watch the smoke as it is somewhat toxic, and makes some people sick who are sensitive to it.

Yup, for best life it needs to be ricked up off the ground with plenty of airflow and protection from wet to fully air dry.

Black locust or honey locust?

Its Black, honey seems to rot fast.

A lot of locusts are dieing around hear. Dad found if you leave the dying ones standing they get more rotten spots in them than cut them and leave them laying for later. He said he has enough firewood laying on the ground to last him the rest of his life. He will be 80 this year.

Just put some black locust post in today, they last a looong time. Real hot firewood.

Peel the posts and let them dry, they seem to last longer.

I wouldn't be afraid to use them.

We have lots of old locust posts in our vinyard. Some now pushing 100 years old. Most of the "rot" on these post are the core or where a branch was. They hollow out in these spots and the rest turns into twisted fiber you can't break or decay in a lifetime

You don’t have hedge? (Osage orange)
If they are available, I can’t imagine using anything else for posts if longevity is the goal.

Not many in the area. These were trees I took down after one up rooted and fell right next to my outdoor wood burner. So I preemptively took a few more down. Figured i would save them for post in the future instead of fire wood. I dont have anything with a loader and had been working a lot so they stayed where they fell.


Now I do have a hillside covered up with small ones I decided to let grow planing on more future post and trees for bucks to rub on..

an old farmer once told me that a black locust post will last ten years longer than forever.

I helped a friend cut and place black locust posts around a 28 acre pasture in the early 2000s with half the posts being locust and half metal. I kept my cattle in there too. It was a lot a lot of work. The posts are still in great shape.

Keith