Honeylocust is a nice tree, unless you come across the thorny ones. We've got tons of thorny honeylocust on our property - some of them with thorns 1 foot long, others with thorns completely obscuring the bark - The thorns fall off, don't decompose, and end up peircing your foot as you walk through the woods. That aside, few trees can beat honeylocust for a hardy, tough urban shade tree. However, there are a few alternate possibilities, such as black locust and Kentucky coffee-tree. I personally like coffee-tree the most. It's got interesting bark, and it is remarkably adaptable, becoming a rather popular street tree these days. And, I don't think grocery stores are the best place to buy trees - Lowes or Menards would probably have better selection. I think I've even seen a few honeylocust on sale at Lowes - They use them as landscaping trees in their parking lots, anyways!

Yes, I would expect a thornless cultivar to revert to genotype and produce thorns under stress or duress, at least some of the time; they developed these attributes as a defense mechanism, so why not revert when an environmental stressor such as mechanical damage occurs? Nature is wonderful and surprises us often. BTW, in N CA when I lived there we'd like to search for, say, variegated euonymus that reverted to type, and usu it was in the stressed areas - parking lot buffer, neglected yard. Never had a thornless blackberry that reverted. Dan

Thanks for the advice! It definitely is a bit ambitious to try to start a new woodland from seedling trees - I'm patient, though. At our old house, which we lived in for nearly 20 years, we planted a bare north slope in sugar maple, red oak, and other regional hardwoods. My brother owns the house, now, and there is quite a forest now where it was once just bare grass. It took 20 years for decent trees to form from saplings, but the end result is well worth it! I'll admit I'm a bit of a penny pincher - If I can find decent seedlings coming up in the woods or in my garden, I use them instead of buying trees. As to the ground covers, I'm not going to do anything yet - The trout lilies are pretty slow spreaders, and they are only in the corner of the area. I do have some dogwoods in the hedgerow at the edge of the pasture, but they are pretty far away from my seedlings. The only other mature trees are mulberries, extremely thorny honeylocust (I've poked holes in my mower tires - part of the reason to replace the mowable grass with woods!) Thanks again!

ever heard of call before you dig? not matter if anythign is supposed to be buried there or not, you are required by LAW to call. expect a hefty bill for the repairs. as far as the easement is concerned, if it is on YOUR lot, you can do as you please. just understand that anything you place on the easement can legally be torn down by ANY utility needing access. no fences without permission, no trees, and no concrete. but you can put your pile there legally and all that can happen is the utility can move/remove it if they need access. if the easement is NOT on your property, then you are trespassing and should move your pile to your property just so you are in the right. it ruly sounds to me as if you BOTH need to quit worrying about wwhat the other is doing. if they do something on your property, tell them not to do it again or you will call the cops. then follow thru. place a restraining order on them if necessary, but the best bet is to sit down facce to face and work out your differences.