Question: Can you give me the lowdown on honey locust and black locust?  Im located east of Fayetteville, Arkansas. I think I may have both species on my property.  Ive read some conflicting information about identifying these two.  I have mature trees with very gnarly thorns up and down the trunk.  It’s my understanding that this indicates it’s a honey locust.  I can’t easily get to the leaves yet to check those.  I also have what I am sure are black locust because of the single leaf off the end of the leaf stem. I’ve seen your hack n squirt videos for the honey locust.  Though I’ve read from other hunters that deer eat their seed pods.  Whereas I’ve read all parts of the black locust are toxic. In your opinion, should both species be taken out?  Do you know if they have any commercial value if so?

Answer: I’m not a fan of locust (honey or black). I believe native grasses and forbs growing where the locust grow is a better habitat (and causes way fewer flat tires).

I’ve worked to eliminate them from my place. A few saplings come up each year from the seed base. At this link is a paper about controlling locust.