Controlling pasture mesquite

The mesquite tree is one of the toughest and most invasive species of brush there is. It has come to populate several million acres in Texas alone. As any rancher will tell you, if left unchecked it will quickly take over a pasture. Though it is a bit of a nuisance, it does have some value to both livestock and wildlife. Here are some ways that you can use to control the mesquite that is in your pasture.

About the mesquite

Technically mesquites are not a tree but rather a legume, much like alfalfa and peanuts. It is because it is a legume that it has some value. Through it’s life process it actually returns nitrogen back into the soil. It is because of this value that you want to manage them not eradicate them.

The part that makes them hard to control is that it is a prolific resprouter. This means that it can regrow from buds that are at the base of the tree. So just cutting the tree down will not get rid of it. In order to remove it entirely you will have to kill the roots and buds as well.

The tree itself provides excellent cover for both livestock and wildlife. The beans that it produces also provide a good  nutrition source for both. This is another reason why you do not want to completely remove it, just control it.

It is a very hardy plant indeed. A mesquite can survive fires, droughts, mowing, freezing, as well as insects. Because of this hardiness the mesquite has been able to take over quite a bit of country. It really thrives here in the semi-arid regions of Texas, New Mexico, and Mexico itself. The plant has take over about 51 million acres just in Texas alone.

Controlling methods

When it comes to controlling mesquites in a pasture there are generally 3 ways to go about it: mechanical, stem spraying, and leaf spraying. The Texas AgriLife extension service has several papers out on how to use each one and they can be found by clicking here.

  Mechanical

As the name implies this means getting rid of the plant by mechanical means. This can be with a dozer, skid steer, or tractor (which ever works for you).

The problem with this is what I had mentioned above: just removing the top will not get rid of it. A root grubber or something similar will have to be used in order to remove the roots and buds so it will not return. If you don’t kill the whole plant then you can expect in about 5 years the plant will completely return.

The main drawback to using this method is that it can get expensive really quickly. In fact the price can get high enough to where it will be like you are buying the land all over again. Diesel fuel is not cheap after  all.

Another downside is that when you are moving the piles of mesquite around they will be dropping the beans which means will also be reseeding the pasture for the next go round.

  Stem spraying

This method means that you will be spraying a chemical around the trunk of the mesquite tree. This method works best on young trees with few basal stems. If it has several then the chemical will not be as effective and thus less economical in the end.

Stem spraying can be done year round but it’s best results will be during the spring-summer growing season. This is when the plant is doing it’s most growth and will absorb the chemical better. The main factor in using this method is the size of the plant. To be effective the plant should be smooth barked and no bigger than 4 inches in diameter.

A mixture of Remedy and diesel fuel is the preferred method of doing this. The diesel will act as a coating agent to make sure that it stays on the plant and is absorbed. The concentration of Remedy that you will use depends on the size and age of the plant. Usually it will require between 15% and 25% of chemical.

To apply the chemical you will first make sure that your nozzle is adjusted to deliver a narrow, cone-shaped mist. I discuss the steps you need to take to make sure that your sprayer is working properly here.

Now that your sprayer is set hold the nozzle within 1 to 2 inches from the mesquite stem. You will then spray the mixture all around the trunk from the base to 12 inches up. As you are apply the chemical wet the trunk almost to the point of runoff.

  Leaf Spray Method

This method works best on mesquites that are brushy and have many stems growing from ground level. It is also best that they are not taller than 8ft.

The best time to use this method is in the late spring (May-June) when the leaves on the plant have changed color from a light-pea green to a more uniform dark green.

Another factor to take into consideration is what the soil temperature is. In order to be effective you will want the soil temperature 12 inches below the surface to be 75deg.

A mixture of 1/2% Reclaim, 1/2% Remedy and water is recommended for this method. You will also want to add a surfactant or dish soap to make sure that it will stick to the leaves long enough to be absorbed. Another thing that you can add is a type of marker dye to the mix to identify which plants have already had an application.

Apply the mixture to all of the leaves to the point of dripping. This will make sure that you have applied enough chemical to get the job done.

Disclaimer: Even though I mentioned Reclaim and Remedy by name do not take this as my endorsement for either of these brands. These two are just the ones that I have found to be the most popular. There are many different types that you can use so you should do your homework to find what works best for you.

Review

Mesquites are a very hardy plant that if left unchecked will take over a pasture in no time. Though they are a problem the value that they provide means that you do not want to completely get rid of them. The 3 methods for controlling mesquite are:

• Mechanical
• Stem Spraying method
• Leaf Spray method