if it were me.. i would apply a chainsaw .. at or above ground level ... with malice ... and hire someone to come grind the stump .. and still spend the next 5 years killing all the remaining volunteers ...

its a crumby tree .. it makes horrible messes .... and its roots will continue to invade the lawn forever ...

cut one root and it will be replaced by many more ...

its either the lawn or the tree ... IMHO .. be done with it ...

there are so many better trees for your area ...

good luck .. ken

PS: the only good locust is a dead locust .. or the one that the neighbor owns.. so you can enjoy it.. without all the hassles ....

I'd not be so anti-Honey Locust! It's a perfectly nice tree.

Cutting surface roots like this is generally not a good idea for two reasons; first, the cut end can allow decay fungi into the rest of the root system, and second, because the surface roots are important to the tree both for stability in storms, and for uptake of water and soil nutrients. Also, if they were cut, the tree's response would be to grow new replacements, so you would have the same again in a few years.

My suggestion would be to give up having a lawn close to the tree, put down a thin layer of mulch, and plant some shade-loving small shrubs or woodland flowers inbetween the roots.

Resin

Thanks Resin:

I wanted to defend this tree against another onslaught from Ken, but my shoulder was hurting and I was tired. I have tried to be a good defender of some kinds of trees that don't get enough love (except Leyland cypress), but this time my spirit flagged.

--Spruce

hey .... sorry to hear about your shoulder .... sprucey ...

if we recommend against 'topping' ... whats the difference with 'bottoming'???

i grow hosta under trees ... EVERY time you cut a root ...it is replaced by a multitude of new roots ... trees are super competitors ... they ALWAYS win versus grass and hosta ...

IF the writer wants a perfect lawn .... get rid of the tree .. the problem will only get worse ...

if they want to grow hosta. .... grow proper trees to garden under ....

you will not out work a tree that is in the wrong place .. at the wrong time ...

NEVER get me wrong ... i love all trees ... in the right place. at the right time ...

but if grass is of prime importance to the writer .. then the tree has to go ....

ken

Ken:

I don't need no stinking grass! I don't need no stinking hostas either! What do I need? Trees, trees, and more trees!

--Spruce

Is it possible we're talking about two different trees? Gleditsia (Honey Locust) is usually a tree that is recommended for underplanting, while Robinia (Black Locust) displays the tendency of rampant suckering that Ken refers to. Honey Locust can make a mighty fine specimen IMO. On the other hand, I would tend to agree with Ken's advice if it's a Black Locust.

Bob

it doesn't matter which locust it is ... if the roots are on top of the soil ... perhaps because of poor soil ... clay ... whatever reason .. cutting out a few roots is not going to solve anything ...

cut one big root .. the tree will grow a million new feeders .. and another medium root will turn into the giant ...

the writer is going to spend the rest of their life digging roots out .. as long as the tree is there ...

if they want a perfect lawn ... unlike sprucey .. lol .. then they ought to consider getting rid of a surface rooted tree ... or not .. i don't care personally .. there are just too many people who save the tree at all cost .. when all they want is a nice lawn ... sometimes someone just has to say .. cut it down ...

i refuse to be a 'yes' man .. lol

good luck whatever your decision ....
ken

Thanks for your advice. I do like this tree and am probably going to give up the lawn instead. I do like a woodland look. If that doesn't work the tree will be taken out. By the way, no suckering on this honey locust. It's definitely a hybrid and not like the native types.

What are some examples of medium sized trees that do not have surface roots that ruin lawns and patios?

It is best to start a new thread with your specifics like where you are and pix of the area you wish to plant them.

tj

My honey locust that's 35 ft from my house is sending roots toward the house and specifically to where I have the sump pump. The tree is 30 years old and the roots toward my house have been getting larger in size over the past few years, like from 2" to 6" dia. I've been warned that these roots can damage foundations and pipes that are there. I feel I have no choice but to cut these roots as they are at the surface to protect my house. In several years, the tree will have outgrown it's space and will need to be removed anyway. PS: The previous owner planted it, not me. Comments?