Purple Robe Locust Tree Problems

Purple Robe Locusts are excellent street trees and provide refreshing shade for decks or patios. They are fast growing, gaining two to three feet per year, and reach a medium tree height of thirty to forty feet. They can live for over a hundred years.

What is killing my locust tree?

Blister beetles will attack locust trees in droves. They are ash-gray in appearance, and they will cause extreme defoliation over various components of the tree. Infestations usually occur at the end of June or the beginning of July.

Do locust trees have invasive roots?

Like many other trees with invasive roots, honey locust suckers grow freely from roots, sending up potential new trees that must be dealt with. Those roots can also pose problems with underground pipes.

How do you know when a locust tree is dying?

Look for these symptoms to determine the health of your tree.

1. Know the signs of a dying tree.
2. The tree has brown and brittle bark or cracks. ...
3. There are few healthy leaves left. ...
4. The tree has an abundance of dead wood. ...
5. It's a host to critters and fungus. ...
6. The tree shows signs of root damage.

What is the lifespan of a locust tree?

The honey locust, Gleditsia triacanthos, can reach a height of 20–30 m (65–100 ft). They exhibit fast growth, but live a medium life span of about 120 years. The leaves are pinnately compound on older trees but bipinnately compound on vigorous young trees.

How long does a purple robe locust live?

Purple Robe Locust will grow to be about 40 feet tall at maturity, with a spread of 30 feet. It has a low canopy with a typical clearance of 5 feet from the ground, and should not be planted underneath power lines. It grows at a fast rate, and under ideal conditions can be expected to live for 60 years or more.

Why are locust trees turning brown?

Answer: The browning of the honey locust foliage is probably due to the mimosa webworm. Damage occurs when the caterpillars tie honey locust leaflets together and feed on the foliage inside the tightly compressed, protective webs. Affected foliage gradually turns brown.

Do locust trees need a lot of water?

Honey locusts have a moderate tolerance for flooding, drought, and other adverse conditions. They thrive in both moist or dry soil. Trees should be watered as soon as they are planted and weekly for the first year. A one-hour trickle that slowly saturates the roots provides adequate water for a new tree.

What is the natural predator of locust?

The desert locust has natural enemies such as predatory wasps and flies, parasitoid wasps, predatory beetle larvae, birds, and reptiles.

Are locust trees good yard trees?

Black Locusts are a good tree for erosion control, land reclamation, and for a durable hardwood that grows extremely fast. They benefit wildlife, can be used for fence posts and hardwood lumber, and produce very fragrant flowers in Spring.

How do you stop a locust tree from spreading?

One method of honey locust control and black locust control is to cut back the trees every growing season. Cut both new stems and new growth—you likely will need to repeat this step several times over the years. Spreading hay over the area could help prevent new trees from sprouting.

Are locust trees good for landscaping?

The honey locust has been used as a shade and street tree for many years, as it transplants well at large sizes and offers light shade without overwhelming turf grass. But it has developed several insect and disease problems over the years that make it short-lived.

How do you tell if a tree needs to be cut down?

Here are the top signs your tree needs to be cut down.

1. The Tree Is Too Close for Comfort.
2. You Notice Weak or Dead Tree Leaves and Bark. ...
3. The Trunk Is Hollow. ...
4. There's a Growing Number of Dead or Dying Tree Branches. ...
5. The Tree Might Fall in a Short Time. ...
6. A Large Limb Looks Like It Might Come Down.

How do you know if a tree is diseased?

Six signs of a diseased or dying tree:

1. Bark abnormalities. Tree bark should be continuous without deep cracks or holes.
2. Decay. Typically trees decay from the inside out. ...
3. Dead branches. They appear dry and will break easily. ...
4. Leaf discoloration. Leaves should appear healthy when they are in season. ...
5. Poor architecture.

How do you bring a tree back to life?

Here are the six things you need to know about how to save a dying tree:

1. IDENTIFY THE SIGNS OF A DYING TREE.
2. IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM.
3. CORRECT WATERING ISSUES.
4. PROPER MULCHING TECHNIQUE.
5. USE FERTILIZERS ACCORDINGLY.
6. PROPER PRUNING TECHNIQUE.

Do locust trees have strong roots?

This handsome species does have some potential negative attributes: A fast-growing tree with a shallow, aggressive root system, it can be highly invasive.

Are locust trees worth money?

Prices for these products range from $1 – $3 per linear foot for whole posts, and from $1.50 – $3.50/board foot for milled lumber, which is far above the prices for most conventional hardwood lumber.

Why are locust trees so messy?

There are three main ways that a honey locust tree may make a “mess” in your yard: the dropping of leaflets in the fall, the dropping of the purple seed pods in the fall, and the rise of small honey locust seedlings everywhere and anywhere.

How do you take care of a purple robe locust tree?

According to the Missouri Botanical Garden, purple-robe locust trees need full sun, although they will tolerate light shade. Almost any soil condition will do, including clay, sand or loam that is acidic to alkaline, with a preference for a pH ranging from about 6.8 to 7.7 and an organically rich loam.

How tall do purple robe locust trees get?

'Purple Robe' is a medium sized, suckering, deciduous tree that typically grows to 30-40' tall with an oval-upright habit.