mesquite control

lnitschke · Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 3 Location: Dallas,TEXAS

any thoughts/experiences on "girdling" for permant kill of mesquite trees?

would success be relative to size/age of tree?

Bluestem · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Posts: 169 Location: N. Texas

Girdling will kill the tree, but will regrow from the roots. Mesquite is tough. I was working on pasture land where herbicides were used about 6 years ago to control mesquite. The pasture was full of mesqite again. I tried to show the rancher that these trees were the same ones he sprayed 6 years ago. We dug up a half dozen mesquite trees. All showed previous root damage. The hebicides were just setting the mesquite back. If the tree is big enough to girdle, I would consider keeping it. They make a nice tree as they get older. I have also noticed that some pastures do not have a mesquite problem. Most are native pastures that have never been plowed. Somewhere in that observation is the answer to its control.

Eden's Garden · Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2005 1:27 pm Post subject: Mesquite Forest

I have a mini forest that grows each year. I'm not opposed to some of them, but someone must have tried to remove them at some point as these are more like shrubs than trees. I'm thinking about a few new chainsaw blades and see a smoking wood pile sale in my future.... :idea:

Then at least I'll make something from them - a cash crop if you will.

kenny1659 · Joined: 07 Jan 2006 Posts: 3 Location: George West,TEXAS

We made a small rootplow to fit our tractor just pops the bushes right out of the ground. If they are too big you might try renting a backhoe and digging them out. Digging is the only sure way to get rid of them, but you have to get all the larger roots. Tractors beat grubbing hoes in getting them out. Kenny