Mesquite Grubbing suggestions

[RanchMan]

I have several acres of mesquite I need to remove. (Most is 5" or less in diameter.) I've seen attachments like <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.dallasweb.com/jones/>this one</A> but wonder how well they work (I have a 40 hp tractor.) 'Course there's the whole thing about getting them cut down before hand (Don't think I'm going to even attempt to cut down acres of mesquite with a chainsaw!) so that brings in a whole other question.

I could always rent a dozer, but would like to do things "on the cheap" if possible. Anyway, what have you guys had luck with when it comes to cutting down/grubbing mesquite?

 

[jbs]

Looks like an interesting piece of equipment. I would be curious as to their mim. H.P. recomendation

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Back in the dark ages we used to pour kerosene around the base of the mesquite tree to kill it and then pull them up. They were dead and stayed dead!
Is this against the EPA rules now?

 

[Rowski]

I've heard of Mesquite before but never worked with it. By the sounds it must be pretty hard stuff. The link you showed look very interesting. I'm not sure if you can shear the Mesquite trees but here is a link to a tree <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=implement&Number=184525&page=&view=&sb=&o=&vc=1>shearer discussion</A>.

If I guessed wrong about the Mesquite tree let me now!

 

[RanchMan]

I think the 18" model is rated for a minimum of 35 Hp or so (I'd have to check their ad in my Co-Op magazine I get to confirm though.) Unfortunately unless you get the roots, mesquite will come back even if you wack down the tree flush with the ground - same thing with fire - it'll look dead and come back. Good for BBQ, but a pain to deal with if it is growing where you don't want it. Unfortunately they spread quickly due to animal activity as well (they eat the seed pods and "deposit" them in other places.) I kindof think as mesquite as the feral hog of the plant world. /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif

With the number of mesquite trees I have, I'm afraid the kerosene method, while potentially successful, wouldn't be something I'd do mainly because I'm talking about hundreds of trees. (A gallon or 2 here or there doesn't bother me much, but I'd hate to put more than that on my place.) I'm not opposed to herbicides per se, but unfortunately due to the runoff patterns on my place and the volume of trees I have to deal with, I'm a bit weary of going that route as well.

I'm afraid I'm looking at dozer time (e.g. $$$). /w3tcompact/icons/sad.gif It works and is used relatively often around here, but just would prefer to minimize expenses while actually being able to do it in a short time frame.

 

[BigDave]

Mesquite, such a wonderful tree. It will grow where nothing else will, and cutting it down won't kill it. /w3tcompact/icons/shocked.gif I had an acre and a half of mesquites, I cut down about 40 of them and left 12 standing. Since Texas tends to look somewhat barren, I left some trees for relief and mowed around them. Unfortunately, I kept mowing down saplings every week from the trees that I had aleady cut down. That's impressive. I bet it took almost two years for those roots to die. Torching them sounds like a good idea to me.

 

[bmac]

I wonder if I could get them to grow here in Georgia. I'd love to have a continuous source for BBQ./w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[BigDave]

I think they would survive in Georgia, but I forgot to mention the thorns. I have encountered a couple of diffent types of trees in the mesquite family. The worst are the one's with the blood red thorns, the are as sharp as a needle and are up to 3" long. It seems like they almost jump out of the tree to cut you. The standard mesquite has one inch long grey thorns. THEY WILL GET IN YOUR TIRES. The best advice I can give you, is to leave the thron in the tire. If you pull the thorns out, you will need to plug/patch the tire. My old Ariens probably had a dozen thorns in each tire, combined with some tire sealent they held pressure no problem. Pull the thorn out and the hole is too big for the sealent. Since the thorns have such a fine point, they continually expand until you reach their base.

A Georgian wanting to grow mesquite for grill flavor is like a Texan wanting Kudzu for some greenery. /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[jyoutz]

The easiest method of preventing mesquite ( or other species for that matter) from resprouting from the stump is to cut the tree and them immediately afterwards spray the stump with a labeled herbicide such as Garlon, ect... Just put some dye in with your herbicide mix so that you can see what stump has been treated. Very little herbicide is used by treating in this manner and it's very safe if you follow the label instructions. The key to treating stumps is to spray the stumps right after cutting, before they seal up. That way, the herbicide goes right to the roots.

 

[RanchMan]

Hmmm. /w3tcompact/icons/hmm.gif That sounds like an interesting option! I have to admit I'm not very educated when it comes to types / use of herbicides. You mentioned Garlon - Is it (or other equivalent) "available to the public" or do I need to go thru a class/get licensed for it?

 

[RanchMan]

<font color=blue>A Georgian wanting to grow mesquite for grill flavor is like a Texan wanting Kudzu for some greenery. </font color=blue>

/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif/w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif Now THAT'S funny!! (mainly because it is sooooo true!)

 

[jyoutz]

I think that you may need to get your applicators license (class + registration fee). Call your county extension AG agent for more info or a suggestion for another herbicide that you can use for cut stump application. The method that I described is the most efficient means that I know of for controlling unwanted woody vegetation, just cut then squirt.

 

[RidgeRunner]

"A Georgian wanting to grow mesquite for grill flavor is like a Texan wanting Kudzu for some greenery."

BD,
That is one of the funniest and most clever one liners I've heard! Living in E. TN and having to fight Kudzu encroachment, I truly appreciated it.

 

[Gringo_Viejo]

Ranchman,

As hard as it is for an orange blooded die-hard to admit it, when I have agricultural questions I look to the aggies for answers. The Texas Agricultural Extension Service has an excellent pamphlet titled, "Brush Busters, How to Beat Mesquite". It can be found at http://tcebookstore.org/pubs/L5144.pdf

 

[RanchMan]

Doh! That hurts!

Q: How does an Aggie find out more info regarding plants on his ranch?
A: A T-sip reminds him the "A" in "A&M" stands for Agriculture! /w3tcompact/icons/crazy.gif

Thanks for the link... I did a little more searching based on what you posted and found <A target="_blank" HREF=http://texaserc.tamu.edu/catalog/topics/Rangelands.html>this web page</A> that has that publication plus some more in case others are interested. (looks like I have some more reading to do as well!)

I guess that helps prove the case that even a T-sip has some redeeming qualities! /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif /w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

 

[Gringo_Viejo]

RanchMan,

It was my pleasure. My Dad was an Aggie as are most of my best friends from home, but I just couldn't see going to a school where they didn't have any women.

The closer I get to doing this ranching thing full time, the more respect I develop for TAMU and the resources they make available.

Good Luck with your mesquite. We are going to fence about 10 acres in part of an old oil field camp that have almost 40 years growth in. We are going to build there and preserve the big mesquites. We plan to try the goat method of reclamation in there outside of the yard area, fence lines and a 300 yard rifle range that will have to be bull dozed or root plowed. If the goats work out, we are going to expand them into a pasture that doesn't have cattle in it. If they don't work out, we'll have a pachanga and Bar-B-Cue the lawn mowers.

 

[JRP]

Must have been a pretty proud T-sip to figure that one out!

jrpoux '87