Mesquite Thorns: Slime vs. Ultraseal

[perdurabo]

I've been dragging my heels too much on this and my mesquite problem has only gotten worse. I'm still not totally sure what the best solution is. I'm eventually going to want to plant that whole 6 acre field I have but I'm not sure what the best/most cost effective solution is.

Most of the mesquite trees are 4-6' by now so even if I spray them theres all the stumps and trunks to contend with. Of all the dozer operators in the area, the only one with a dozer big enough to run a root plow (or even has a root plow) wants $110/hr for his work, which seems awful high.

I can't find anyplace within a decent range who will rent me a dozer with a root plow either (well, Holt Cat will, but its a D6 for $4k/wk). I can rent a JD450 from Derrick Rental is Bastrop for about $1200/wk, but that's certainly not big enough to run a root plow, even if they could find me one. If I just use a dozer with a blade like a JD 450, I'll just end up making more brush piles that will never get burned because the burn ban is never off for more than a couple days. I'll also end up with a lot of roots and stumps still left in the soil as well. I need the soil cleared and loose enough that I can plow it with a Kubota L3400 and a 5' disc.

Any recommendations?

 

[texasjohn]

Spray NOW..... your kill % will be less than optimum... but, my experience is that mesquite send up some new growth in the fall and does one final replenishment of its root system.... so a spray before 1st freeze will be still beneficial... probably get 50% to 70% kill, depending on various things.... then, spray again in the spring....

You see how expensive any mechanical method is.

So is a chemical method, but more sure, IMHO, since you spray each plant...

It will take patience, but in a year or two you will have a clean field... you are right about all the thorns left from the dead brush... suggest you plan a controlled burn after almost all of the bushes are dead... grass should have grown up sufficient to propagate the burn. Dry and dead brush should burn as well....

You can get a chisel plow... pull it behind your tractor to loosen up the dirt and pull up the roots...after the burn... you can remove shanks until you are happy with the match between your tractor's pulling ability and the ground destruction you are achieving. It will take several passes... at angles from each other.... first pass will not look like it is doing much... let things sit for a while... rain on it once or so... then make second pass about 30 degrees from the first... angle not critical, just need to pull somewhat across prior pull and 90 degrees is horribly bumpy and doesn't do very well either. 3rd pass at an angle to the other two.

This will likely leave the land busted up to depth of about 10 inches or so with roots rearranged a bunch... and pulled loose....

4 to 6 foot trees are not that bad... I had to get out an entire thicket of 20foot plus trees... took me 5 years to get into the entire area with herbicide... about 20 acres.

The task looks impossible... but get started and whittle away at it and you will get there....

If you do decide to go the mechanical removal method... STILL be prepared to spray some later... the things will continue to come up...

 

[wushaw]

My method was chainsaw, backhoe for stumps and my 28" Snapper rear engine rider to mow the thorns. It takes time and alot of work especially when you are a one man crew.
I would cut the trees and put them in a pile in the winter, mow thorns and then dig stumps in the summer and put in same pile and burn in winter.
I don't recommend my method, it's hard work....I enjoyed every minute of it though.