The strength of black locust wood

Hello, I’m Amanda McNulty with Clemson Extension and Making It Grow. We had cousins who lived in Saluda, North Carolina, my grandparents had a summer house there, and for years we used to spend weeks escaping summer’s heat in that lovely town. One cousin had a shed with posts made of black locust, and although she’s not with us, the posts are probably still happily holding up that roof. Locust wood is extremely durable and reports say locust fence posts easily last fifty years – and one farmer said that if you dig them up and replant them upside down; they’ll last another fifty. I do remember one of Cousin Muff’s supporting posts with leaves growing out of it – apparently that’s not uncommon. The trees are susceptible to all sorts of insects and rots but in good soils can grow several feet a year.