Trees Again

I am going slowly mad here with total bewilderment as to what to do with our trees.  I haven't put this in 'woodland care' because it's not quite woodland, more a collection of trees on the perimeter of our property.

First question - Laurels - good or bad.  At present way out of hand and swamping other things like oaks and chestnuts.  If we SEVERLY cut them back will that be enough for the other trees to grow strong.

Second question - false arcacia/black locust - good or bad.  I'd heard good - seed pods for chooks, a legume etc but now I hear bad and that they're poisonous to stock.  Ours are suckering everywhere and the little shoots have such nasty throns on them.  The suckers are coming up even 15m away from the tree, and along that line from tree to outer point.  What to do?

Thrid question - oaks - ours must have had a mast year every year judging by the number of saplings in the 'lawn'.  We're now trying out Paul's lawncare regime and assisted by a distinct lack of water, haven't cut the grass now for 2 months.  But the oaks are coming up thick n fast.  Will the mowing take them out?  Will the grass out compete them (I fear not)?

Oh baby awake so posting now

I'm no expert by any means but I Know that if you keep mowing those oaks down they will eventually give up. grass thrives on being cut...most trees.....not so much. those oaks have deep tap roots as youngins and won't be affected much by the lack of water like the grass.

Black locust usefulness/toxicity came up in another thread:

https://permies.com/permaculture-forums/997_0/permaculture/best-perenial-chicken-feed

It sounds to me like an "everything in moderation" situation, where giving them other options or blending feed carefully will keep tannins from becoming too much of a problem.

You have it freaky good. 

Black locusts are some of the very best permaculture plants.  Nitrogen fixing, the very best wood for anything outdoors, the leaves and pods are edible, they leaf out late, giving the ground time to warm in the spring, possibly THE best nectar for bees.  I think the ultimate permaculture farm would have at least a dozen of these per acre.

And so are oaks.  Mast for pigs and other animals.  A deep tap root.  If you have lots of oaks, you can raise pigs and never buy feed.

Acorns are also edible by humans, but like olives have to be leached or similar to remove bitterness.  I'm told bread made with half acorn, half wheat flour is quite tasty.

if you have a use and room for the laurel and locusts ..keep them..otherwise i'd remove them..

as for the oaks..if you mow them they will die..but keep the big ones..at a good space..nothing better than a good oak tree growing for shade and birds and wildlife..

if the oaks are tiny babies..i mean like less than a year..you might be able to move them to a more desired location..but once the tap root is in the ground..no chance.


myself i wouldn't plant a locust in my property..i do have some thorny trees though..russian and autumn olives..i totally love the smell of the flowers.

they are dangerous though !!