Good Wood in Thorns

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PA Fire Bug

Feeling the Heat
Jan 13, 2010
313
Blair County, PA
I've been working in an area where a logger cleared out many trees about three years ago. Since then, the thorns have taken over. The logger didn't leave much but I did find several nice trees that have blown down since then. Most of the trees in the woods are cherry but one looked and smelled like oak. I had to use my limbing saw to cut through thorns to get to the trees. There are a few logging roads but they are pretty thorny. I found several trees that were not on the ground and a couple of dead standing trees with little rot. I miss the cold weather since wearing several layers would offer more protection but I am thankful for the free wood and no ticks.

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I've been working in an area where a logger cleared out many trees about three years ago. Since then, the thorns have taken over. The logger didn't leave much but I did find several nice trees that have blown down since then. Most of the trees in the woods are cherry but one looked and smelled like oak. I had to use my limbing saw to cut through thorns to get to the trees. There are a few logging roads but they are pretty thorny. I found several trees that were not on the ground and a couple of dead standing trees with little rot. I miss the cold weather since wearing several layers would offer more protection but I am thankful for the free wood and no ticks.

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I am battling a similar thorny situation, Its a bear but the dead standing ash and cherry are worth it.
 
Are those just wild blackberry thorns, or some of those nasty wild rose hooked thorns, too? Those things are brutal! <>
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I'm certain that's multiflora rose, a nasty non-native invasive shrub.
It's a pic I grabbed online, but it's one of the stickers I run into here. My wife is waging was on it, and other invasives like Asian Honeysuckle, Russian Olive, etc.
 
It's a pic I grabbed online, but it's one of the stickers I run into here. My wife is waging was on it, and other invasives like Asian Honeysuckle, Russian Olive, etc.
I read somewhere on a state website that multiflora rose will get a frilly/lacy looking leaf were the petiole meets the stem when they have the leaves.
 
I put a blade on my weedeater and cut stuff down before I cut at the tree. I make a work area. May sound stupid, but I will take multiflora rose and blackberry all day compared to greenbriar. Its a vine so it grows up and all around the tree. Always finds somewhere else in the ground to anchor too. The thorns are harder and sharper and will go through gloves and clothes that other thorns won't. Greenbriar and poison ivy are my 2 biggest enemies.
 
There are a lot of dark blue/purple vines. There are also bunches of nasty thorn bushes that must be wild rose. I quickly learned to not pull away once hooked. Even then cut, they jump up and hook me on the backs of my legs where I have no protection. Some were so tall that when I cut them, they fell across my back. Even with long sleeves and gloves my knuckles and left arm were looking pretty rough. Any thorns that were not removed right away got very sore.
 
The dark blue/purple ones sound like black raspberries to me. Tasty in summer heat, I think June Julie. You will find Box turtles around them. The wild rose unless you have a brush hog its a tough go, my knuckles and legs are healing from the last few weeks. I try to cut up to the base of the plant then use my foot to push them away cut and hope none of them snuck up behind me.
 
If you don't have a blade for a weedeater, my grandpa took an old push mower handle and put a piece of 2x4 on the mower end of it. I would push the brush back with it and just stomp it down.
 
I have a cherry tree I want to take down and its just loaded with poison ivy, I did cut the stem in the fall so maybe this spring I can get it without too much trouble.
 
I have a cherry tree I want to take down and its just loaded with poison ivy, I did cut the stem in the fall so maybe this spring I can get it without too much trouble.
I usually try to pull the cut vine off from the bottom up, before I drop the tree, then see if I can get the rest off after I fall it. If you have to saw through the ivy to buck the trunk, that's when you spread the juice all over the wood..
 
I have a cherry tree I want to take down and its just loaded with poison ivy, I did cut the stem in the fall so maybe this spring I can get it without too much trouble.
I carry a wedge banger with me dual purpose is to pop ivy off, chop it into 4-6ft sections peels right off. I don't think I have a single tree free of a atleast one vine.
 
pop ivy off, chop it into 4-6ft sections peels right off. I don't think I have a single tree free of a atleast one vine.
This is the ivy capitol of the world. Stuff gets chest-high in spots. I've got radar for it at this point; I can sense the leaves reaching out for me from vines that have crept up the trunks of trees..
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I know exactly what you mean. I have a special sense for it and seeing it gives me a little anxiety lol. Your pictures caused me to go take a xanax.
 
This is the ivy capitol of the world. Stuff gets chest-high in spots. I've got radar for it at this point; I can sense the leaves reaching out for me from vines that have crept up the trunks of trees..
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Yikes that's a lot of ivy... I was fly fishing in college with a buddy. End of the day we were walking along the top of a steep slope and some of the trail gave way under his feet. Down he went on his back and butt a couple hundred feet. Was hot out and he was wearing running shorts, fishing vest and sandals. The entire slope was poison ivy. He ended up in the hospital briefly as I recall.
 
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I put a blade on my weedeater and cut stuff down before I cut at the tree. I make a work area. May sound stupid, but I will take multiflora rose and blackberry all day compared to greenbriar. Its a vine so it grows up and all around the tree. Always finds somewhere else in the ground to anchor too. The thorns are harder and sharper and will go through gloves and clothes that other thorns won't. Greenbriar and poison ivy are my 2 biggest enemies.
What kind of blade, and would you recommend it? Thanks!
 
Its triangle shaped blade that stihl makes for their weedeaters. I bought an fs91 because I could put a blade on it too. I use it all the time. Have cut trees up to 1". I highly recommend anyone that has property with woods/ brush to own a weedeater that you can put a blade on.